Battery having a built-in controller

ABSTRACT

A multiple-cell battery having a built-in controller is disclosed that extends the run time of the battery. The controller may extend the run time of the battery, for example, by converting the cell voltage to an output voltage that is greater than a cut-off voltage of an electronic device, by converting the cell voltage to an output voltage that is less than the nominal voltage of the electrochemical cell of the battery, or by protecting the electrochemical cell from current peaks. The controller may also include a ground bias circuit that provides a virtual ground so that a converter may operate at lower cell voltages. The battery may be a single-cell battery, a universal single-cell battery, a multiple-cell battery or a multiple-cell hybrid battery. The individual cells of the multiple-cell battery may be connected in series or parallel. In addition, the individual cells may have a controller in each cell that is capable of performing one or more functions to extend the run time of the cell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to batteries and more particularlyto batteries having a built-in controller to extend the battery servicerun time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Consumers use primary and rechargeable (secondary) batteries inportable electronic devices such as radios, compact disc players,cameras, cellular phones, electronic games, toys, pagers and computersdevices. When the service run time of a primary battery is over, thebattery is usually thrown away. The service run time of a typicalprimary battery generally only permits usage of between approximately 40and 70% of the total battery storage capacity. Once that portion of theinitial stored energy has been used, the battery generally cannot supplyenough voltage to drive a typical electronic circuit. When the usefullife of these batteries is spent, the consumers usually throw thebatteries away even though the battery still contains betweenapproximately 30 and 60% of its storage capacity. Thus, extending theservice run time of a primary battery by allowing a safe deeperdischarge will reduce waste by allowing the electronic devices to usemore of the storage capacity of the battery before throwing it away.

[0003] The overall life of a rechargeable battery, however, is primarilydependent upon the number of and the efficiency of the charge cycles.Rechargeable batteries may be charged and reused after each dischargecycle. As with a primary battery, after a percentage of the batterystorage capacity has been used, the battery typically cannot supplyenough voltage to drive an electronic circuit. Thus, each dischargecycle of a rechargeable battery may be extended if a deeper discharge ofthe battery is provided. The level of discharge of a rechargeablebattery, however, has an impact on the number of and the efficiency offuture charges of the rechargeable battery. In general, as the depth ofdischarge of a rechargeable electrochemical cell increases, the numberof charge cycles that a rechargeable electrochemical cell may undergodecreases. The optimal discharge characteristics of particular types ofrechargeable electrochemical cells, however, vary widely. In a NickelCadmium (“NiCd”) battery, for example, a deep discharge is preferredbecause the battery may otherwise develop a “memory” effect if thebattery is charged without being appropriately depleted resulting in adecreased capacity available for future charges. Deep discharge of alithium battery, however, may damage the electrochemical cells. Theservice run time of a rechargeable electrochemical cell may generally beextended better by efficiently controlling the discharge and chargecycles of the particular cell such that the total number of chargecycles may be maximized and the amount of energy recovered from eachdischarge cycle of the electrochemical cell is also optimized.

[0004] In addition, consumers constantly demand smaller and lighterportable electronic devices. One of the primary obstacles to makingthese devices smaller and lighter is the size and weight of thebatteries required to power the devices. In fact, as the electroniccircuits get faster and more complex, they typically require even morecurrent than they did before, and, therefore, the demands on thebatteries are even greater. Consumers, however, will not accept morepowerful and miniaturized devices if the increased functionality andspeed requires them to replace or recharge the batteries much morefrequently. Thus, in order to build faster and more complex electronicdevices without decreasing their useful life, the electronic devicesneed to use the batteries more efficiently and/or the batteriesthemselves need to provide greater utilization of stored energy.

[0005] Some more expensive electronic devices include a voltageregulator circuit such as a switching converter (e.g., a DC/DCconverter) in the devices for converting and/or stabilizing the outputvoltage of the battery. In these devices, multiple single-cell batteriesare generally connected in series, and the total voltage of thesebatteries is converted into a voltage required by the load circuit by aconverter. A converter can extend the run time of the battery bystepping down the battery output voltage in the initial portion of thebattery discharge where the battery would otherwise supply more voltage,and therefore more power, than the load circuit requires, and/or bystepping up the battery output voltage in the latter portion of thebattery discharge where the battery would otherwise be exhausted becausethe output voltage is less than the load circuit requires.

[0006] The approach of having the converter in the electronic device,however, has several drawbacks. First, the converters are relativelyexpensive to place in the electronic devices because every devicemanufacturer has specific circuit designs that are made in a relativelylimited quantity and, thus, have a higher individual cost. Second,battery suppliers have no control over the type of converter that willbe used with a particular battery. Therefore, the converters are notoptimized for the specific electrochemical properties of each type ofelectrochemical cell. Third, different types of electrochemical cellssuch as alkaline and lithium cells have different electrochemicalproperties and nominal voltages and, therefore, cannot be readilyinterchanged. Additionally, the converters take up valuable space in theelectronic devices. Also, some electronic devices may use linearregulators instead of more efficient switching converters such as aDC/DC converter. In addition, electronic devices containing switchingconverters may create electromagnetic interference (EMI) that mayadversely affect adjacent circuitry in the electronic device such as aradio frequency (RF) transmitter. By placing the converter in thebattery, however, the source of the EMI can be placed farther away fromother EMI sensitive electronics and/or could be shielded by a conductivecontainer of the battery.

[0007] Another problem with present voltage converters is that theytypically need multiple electrochemical cells, especially with respectto alkaline, zinc-carbon, nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydrate(NiMH), and silver oxide batteries, in order to provide enough voltageto drive the converter. In order to avoid this problem, presentconverters usually require multiple electrochemical cells connected inseries to provide enough voltage to drive the converter, which may thenstep the voltage down to a level required by the electronic device.Thus, due to the converter's input voltage requirements, the electronicdevice must contain several electrochemical cells, even though theelectronic device itself may only require a single cell to operate. Thisresults in wasted space and weight and prevents further miniaturizationof the electronic devices.

[0008] Thus, a need exists to optimally use the stored charge of arechargeable battery and optimize the depth of discharge before chargingthe battery in order to maximize its service run time. By designingbatteries to provide a greater utilization of their stored energy,electronic devices can also use smaller or fewer batteries in order tofurther miniaturize portable electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a battery that provides a longerservice run time by optimally using the stored charge of a primary or arechargeable battery before charging. The battery has a built-incontroller that includes a converter, which may be capable of operatingbelow the voltage threshold of typical electronic devices. Thecontroller more efficiently regulates the voltage of the electrochemicalcell and allows for a controlled discharge or an optimal discharge depthin order to extend the service run time of the battery. The controlleris preferably disposed on a mixed-mode silicon chip that is customdesigned for operation with a particular type of electrochemical cellsuch as an alkaline, nickel cadmium (“NiCd”), nickel metal hydrate(“NiMH”), lithium, lithium ion, sealed lead-acid (“SLA”), silver oxideor hybrid cell or with a particular electronic device.

[0010] The controller monitors and controls power delivery to the loadto optimally extend the battery service run time by (1) turning on andoff the DC/DC converter; (2) maintaining a minimum required outputvoltage when the input voltage is below that which typical electronicdevices can operate; (3) lowering the battery output impedance; (4)determining the optimal discharge depth; (5) providing an optimal chargesequence; (6) increasing discharge current that given electrochemicalcell can provide without controller; (7) providing high dischargecurrent within cell safety limits even if this current exceeds convertermaximum output current using by pass mode; (8) measuring remaining cellcapacity; and (9) providing operating control signals to cell capacityindicators/‘fuel’ gauges.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a single controller is mounted insidea housing of a multiple cell primary or rechargeable battery (e.g., astandard 9 volt battery). This aspect of the present invention providesseveral distinct advantages over placing the controller in theelectronic device. First, it allows the battery designer to takeadvantage of particular electrochemical characteristics of a particulartype of electrochemical cell. Second, if the device needs a converteronly for a battery containing a particular type of electrochemical cell(e.g., lithium) to alter and/or stabilize the battery output voltage andnot for a battery containing another type of electrochemical cell (e.g.,NiCd, SLA), and the converter is integrated with the battery thatrequires the converter (i.e., the lithium battery), the electronicdevice may be designed without the DC/DC converter. This will allow forsmaller circuit designs and prevent losses associated with the converterfrom affecting the battery that does not need the converter.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the controller is mountedinside the container of a single-cell battery such as a AAA, AA, C, D orprismatic battery, or inside the container of each cell of amultiple-cell battery such as a prismatic or a standard 9 volt battery.This aspect of the present invention provides the advantages listedabove for placing a single controller in a multiple-cell battery andprovides even more advantages. First, it allows the controller to becustom matched to particular type of electrochemical cell to takeadvantage of its particular electrochemical reactions. Second, it allowsfor batteries having different types of electrochemical cells to be usedinterchangeably by either altering or stabilizing the output voltage orinternal impedance to meet the requirements of electronic devicesdesigned to operate on a standard battery. Both of these advantages, forexample are met in a super efficient lithium cell that meets thepackaging and electrical requirements of a standard 1.5 volt AA batteryby using a built-in controller to step down the nominal cell voltagefrom the range from about 2.8 to about 4.0 volts to an output voltage ofabout 1.5 volts. By utilizing the higher cell voltage of a lithium cell,the designer can substantially increase the battery run time. Also,providing a controller in each battery cell provides a much moreeffective control over every cell than is presently available. Thecontroller may monitor and control discharge conditions in each primaryelectrochemical cell and can ensure that each cell is completelyexhausted before the electronic device shuts down. The controller mayalso monitor or control the discharge cycle in each rechargeableelectrochemical cell to ensure that the cell is discharged to a levelthat will provide the longest possible service run time of the batteryand will improve the safety of the cell to prevent conditions such asmemory effects, short circuits or harmful deep discharges. Thecontroller may also directly monitor and control the charge cycle ofeach rechargeable electrochemical cell that is in a battery to preventconditions such as overcharging or short-circuiting to increase thecycle life and improve the safety of the battery. The charge state ofsingle cells can also be signaled to consumers directly (visual, audio,vibration etc. indicators) or via ‘smart’ device interface.

[0013] The controllers also allow universal use of the batteries of thepresent invention. The batteries of the present invention provideadvantages over known batteries regardless of whether they are used withelectric, electromechanical, or electronic devices that have a cut-offvoltage such as the ones listed above or with an electric device. Incase of electrical, electromechanical, and electronic devices orappliances the batteries of present invention will maintain their peakperformance until the very end of the batteries service run time.Utilizing controller with the battery the tail of the actual voltageversus time discharge curve could be profiled in such way so that itcould emulate the typical discharge profile (without instantaneous endof service).

[0014] The controller chips can also be made much more economicallybecause the large volume of battery sales allows for much less expensiveproduction of the chips than individual regulator or converter designscan be made for each type of electronic device.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the DC/DC converter is a highefficiency, ultra low input voltage, and medium power converter thatutilizes a pulse-width, or -phase shift modulation, and pulse skip lowduty control scheme with the start-stop oscillator control scheme.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed with respect to the description of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] While the specification concludes with claims particularlypointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regardedas the present invention, it is believed that the invention will bebetter understood from the following description, which is taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical cylindrical batterystructure.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another typical cylindricalbattery structure.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of yet another typical cylindricalbattery structure.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a battery of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 4A is a block diagram of one preferred embodiment of thebattery shown in FIG. 4.

[0023]FIG. 4B is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of thebattery shown in FIG. 4.

[0024]FIG. 4C is a block diagram of yet another preferred embodiment ofthe battery shown in FIG. 4.

[0025]FIG. 5A is a partially exploded, sectional view of a preferredembodiment of a battery of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 5B is a partially exploded, sectional view of anotherpreferred embodiment of a battery of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 5C is a partially exploded, perspective view of yet anotherpreferred embodiment of a battery of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a preferredembodiment of a multiple-cell battery of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of abattery of the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of yet another preferred embodiment of abattery of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of abattery of the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an aspect ofthe preferred embodiment of the battery of FIG. 9.

[0033]FIG. 9B is a block diagram of yet another preferred embodiment ofan aspect of the preferred embodiment of the battery of FIG. 9.

[0034]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of yet another preferred embodiment ofa battery of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of another preferred embodiment of abattery of the present invention.

[0036]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of yet another preferred embodiment ofa battery of the present invention.

[0037]FIG. 13 is a combination of a block and a schematic diagram ofanother preferred embodiment of a battery of the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 14 is a graph of discharge characteristic curves for atypical battery and two different preferred embodiments of batteries ofthe present invention.

[0039]FIG. 15 is a combination of a block and schematic diagram of yetanother preferred embodiment of a battery of the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 16 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a chargesub-controller as depicted in FIG. 15.

[0041]FIG. 17 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a chargesub-controller as depicted in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The present invention relates to single-cell and multiple-cellbatteries. The batteries of the present invention can be either primaryor rechargeable. The term “primary” is used in this application andrefer to a battery or an electrochemical cell that is intended to bediscarded after its usable electrical storage capacity has been depleted(i.e., it is not intended to be recharged or otherwise reused). Theterms “rechargeable” and “secondary” are used interchangeably in thisapplication and refer to a battery or an electrochemical cell that isintended to be recharged at least once after its usable electricalstorage capacity has been depleted (i.e., it is intended to be reused atleast once). The term “consumer” in this application refers to a batterythat is intended to be used in an electronic or electric devicepurchased or used by a consumer. The term “single-cell” refers to abattery having a single electrochemical cell packaged individually suchas a standard AA, AAA, C or D type battery, or a single-cell in amultiple-cell battery (e.g., such as a standard 9 volt battery or abattery for a cellular telephone or laptop computer). The term“battery,” as used in this application, refers to a container havingterminals and a single electrochemical cell, or a housing that hasterminals and at least substantially contains two or moreelectrochemical cells (e.g., a standard 9 volt battery or a battery fora cellular telephone or laptop computer). The electrochemical cells neednot be completely enclosed by the housing if each cell has its ownindividual container. A portable telephone battery, for example, maycontain two or more electrochemical cells that each have their ownindividual containers and are packaged together in a shrink-wrap plasticmaterial that holds the individual containers together but may notcompletely enclose the individual containers of the cells.

[0043] As used in this application, the term “hybrid battery” includes amultiple-cell battery that contains two or more voltaic cells of whichat least two of those cells have different voltaic mechanisms such asphotovoltaic, fuel, thermal, electrochemical, electromechanical, etc. ora different electrode, a different pair of electrodes or a differentelectrolyte. As used in this application term, “battery cell” is used torefer generally to voltaic cells used in a battery, includingelectrochemical cells. Also, voltaic or electrovoltaic cell is usedinterchangeably and describes various physical mechanisms of generationof electricity including chemical. In addition, a hybrid cell maycontain additional energy storage elements improving cell voltage andcurrent discharge characteristics such as a super or ultra capacitor,high efficiency inductor, or low capacity secondary cell. The hybridcell elements can be made to replace inactive cell construction elementssuch as label, seal, hollow terminals, etc.

[0044] The term “controller” as used in this application refers to acircuit that accepts at least one input signal and provides at least oneoutput signal that is a function of the input signal. The terms “DC/DCconverter” and “converter,” are used interchangeably in this applicationand refer to a switching-type, i.e., a chopper-controlled DC/DCconverter, also known as a DC/AC inverter, that converts an input DCvoltage to a required DC output voltage. DC/DC converters are powerelectronic circuits that often provide a regulated output. The convertermay provide a stepped-up voltage level, a stepped-down voltage level ora regulated voltage of about the same level. Many different types ofDC/DC converters are well known in the art. The present inventioncontemplates the use of known converters or linear regulators aspossible, though less advantageous, substitutions for the preferredconverters described in this application that are capable of operatingat low voltage levels below where typical electronic devices canoperate.

[0045] The “cut-off voltage” of an electronic device is the voltagebelow which an electric or electronic device connected to a batterycannot operate. Thus, the “cut-off voltage” is device dependent, i.e.,the level depends on the minimum operating voltage of the device (thefunctional endpoint) or the frequency of operation (e.g., must be ableto charge capacitor within a given time period). Most electronic deviceshave a cut-off voltage in the range from about 1 volt to about 1.2volts, with some of the electronic devices having a cut-off voltage aslow as about 0.9 volts. Electric devices that have mechanical movingparts, such as electric clocks, motors and electromechanical relays alsohave a cut-off voltage that is necessary to provide enough current tocreate an electromagnetic field strong enough to move the mechanicalparts. Other electric devices, such as a flashlight, generally do nothave a device cut-off voltage, but as the voltage of the batterypowering it decreases, the output power (e.g., bulb intensity) will alsodecrease.

[0046] If a single electrochemical cell is powering a device having acut-off voltage, the electrochemical cell is “subject to” the cut-offvoltage of the device in that the battery must provide an output voltagethat is greater than or equal to the cut-off voltage of the device orelse the device will shut-off. If two or more electrochemical cellsarranged in series, however, are powering the device, i.e., electricallyconnected between the positive input terminal and the negative inputterminal, each electrochemical cell is “subject to” a portion of thecut-off voltage of the device. For example, if two electrochemical cellsare connected in series and are powering a device, each cell is “subjectto” one-half of the cut-off voltage of the device. If threeelectrochemical cells are connected in series and are used to power thedevice, however, each electrochemical cell is only “subject to”one-third of the cut-off voltage of the device. Thus, if a number ofcells “n” are connected in series and are powering the device, each cellis “subject to” a portion of the cut-off voltage of the device that maybe defined as the cut-off voltage divided by n, where n is an integer.If two or more electrochemical cells are connected in parallel to powerthe electronic device, however, each cell is still “subject to” the fullcut-off voltage of the device. Additionally, in this application, if twoor more electrochemical cells are connected in series, and that seriesconnection is connected in parallel with one or more otherelectrochemical cells, each of the series-connected cells are “subjectto” the same portion of the cut-off voltage as if electrochemical cellsconnected in series were only electrochemical cells powering the device.

[0047] One aspect of the present invention is to extend the “service runtime” of a battery. For a primary battery, the “battery service runtime” and the “battery run time” are interchangeable and are defined asthe time of the discharge cycle until the output voltage of the batterydrops below the minimum operating voltage of the device that the batteryis powering, i.e., the cut-off voltage of that device. While the “cellrun time” is dependent upon the electrochemical cell itself, i.e.,exhausting all the electrochemical energy of the cell, the “battery runtime” is dependent upon the device in which it is used. An electronicdevice having a cut-off voltage of about 1 volt, for example, will shutdown when the battery output voltage drops below 1 volt even though theelectrochemical cell may still have at least 50% of its energy storagecapacity remaining. In this example, the “battery run time” has elapsedbecause it can no longer provide high enough voltage to drive theelectronic device and the battery is generally thrown away. The “cellrun time,” however, has not elapsed because the cell has electrochemicalenergy remaining.

[0048] A rechargeable battery, however, has multiple charge/dischargecycles. In a rechargeable battery, the “cycle life” is defined as thenumber of charge/discharge cycles that can be achieved. The “battery runtime” of a rechargeable battery refers to the time of a single dischargecycle until the output voltage of the rechargeable battery drops belowthe cut-off voltage of the device that the battery is powering or thedischarge is stopped to provide a greater cycle life of the battery. The“battery service run time” of a rechargeable battery, however, refers tothe total number of charge/discharge cycles in which each dischargecycle has an optimum run time. The “cell run time” of a rechargeableelectrochemical cell is the time required for the cell to achieveoptimal discharge depth under load conditions during a single dischargecycle of that cell. As discussed above, the “cycle life” of arechargeable battery is a function of the depth of discharge that therechargeable cell undergoes. As the depth of discharge increases, thebattery run time also increases, but the cycle life and the batteryservice run time decrease. Conversely, as the depth of dischargedecreases, the battery run time also decreases, but the cycle life andthe battery service run time increase. From a device usage point ofview, however, shorter battery run time is inconvenient. Thus, for eachparticular electrochemistry and design of a rechargeable battery a ratiobetween the discharge depth and the cycle life can be optimized to allowfor a greater battery service run time. One possible way to optimize theservice run time of a rechargeable battery, for example, is to comparethe cumulative energy delivered, which may be defined as the product ofthe cycle life (i.e., number of cycles) achieved at a particulardischarge depth and the amount of energy recovered in each of thosecycles.

[0049] In this application, the terms “useful life of theelectrochemical cell” or the “cell useful life” are also used regardlessof whether the electrochemical cell is a primary or rechargeable cell,and correspond to the battery run time in that the “cell useful life” isthe time until the cell is no longer useful in a particular dischargecycle because the electrochemical cell can no longer provide enoughvoltage to drive the device that it is powering. If the “cell run time”in a single-cell battery is extended or reduced, then the “cell usefullife” and the “battery run time” are also necessarily extended orreduced, respectively. Additionally, the terms “battery run time” of asingle-cell battery and “cell useful life” are interchangeable in thatif either the “battery run time” of the single-cell battery or the “celluseful life” are extended or reduced, then the other will also berespectively extended or reduced. In contrast, however, the term “celluseful life” of a particular electrochemical cell in a multiple-cellbattery is not necessarily interchangeable with the term “battery runtime” for that multiple-cell battery because the particularelectrochemical cell may still have a remaining useful life even afterthe battery run time of the multiple-cell battery has elapsed. Likewise,if the “cell run time” of a particular electrochemical cell in amultiple-cell battery is extended or reduced, the “battery run time” isnot necessarily extended or reduced because the “battery run time” maydepend upon the cell voltage of one or more other cells in the battery.

[0050] The “optimal depth of discharge” or “optimal discharge depth” ofa rechargeable electrochemical cell as used in this application refersto the cell residual capacity that maximizes the number ofcharge/discharge cycles and optimizes the run time for each dischargecycle of that cell. The service run time of a rechargeableelectrochemical cell may be drastically shortened if the cell isdischarged below the “optimal discharge depth” for that cell (e.g.,voltage at about 1.6 volts for a SLA cell). A deep discharge of alithium ion cell, for example, may damage the cell and decrease thenumber of and the efficiency of future charge cycles of that cell. Anickel cadmium (“NiCd”) electrochemical cell, however, is preferablymore deeply discharged in order to prevent “memory” effects fromshortening the life of the cell by decreasing the run time of that cellin future discharge cycles.

[0051] The terms “electrically connected” and “electrical connection”and “electrically coupled” refer to connections or couplings that allowfor continuous current flow. The terms “electronically connected” and“electronic connection” refer to connections in which an electronicdevice such as a transistor or a diode are included in the current path.“Electronic connections” are considered in this application to be asubset of “electrical connections” such that while every “electronicconnection” is considered to be an “electrical connection,” not every“electrical connection” is considered to be an “electronic connection.”

[0052] A battery of the present invention includes one or morecontrollers that extend the service run time of the battery byoptimizing the energy recovery in the discharge cycle of a primary orrechargeable battery and, in the case of a rechargeable battery,maximizing the number of discharge cycles. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, for example, a controller may perform one or more ofthe following functions: (1) discharge control, (2) charge control, (3)emergency control, disconnecting cell in case of short circuit, reversepolarity, charge (primary cell) or by passing controller if loadrequires battery safe current that exceeds controller deliverablecurrent rate, (4) signaling cell remaining capacity and critical levelsof remaining energy. Electrochemical cell(s) may be packaged in eithersingle-cell or multiple-cell batteries. Multiple-cell batteries mayinclude two or more of the same type of electrochemical cell, or includetwo or more different types of electrochemical cells in a hybridbattery. The multiple-cell battery of the present invention may containelectrochemical cells electrically arranged in series and/or inparallel. The controller(s) of a single-cell battery may be electricallyconnected in series and/or parallel with the electrochemical cell(s)inside a container of a cell, and packaged inside a housing that atleast partially contains the container of the cell, or attached to thecontainer, the housing, or to a label or any other structure affixed tothe container or housing. The controller(s) of a multiple-cell batterymay be packaged along with one or more of the individual cells asdescribed with respect to a single-cell battery, and/or may be packagedalong with a combination of multiple cells such that the controller isconnected in series or in parallel with the combination ofelectrochemical cells.

[0053] The controller of a battery of the present invention may performone or more of the functions listed above, and may also perform otherfunctions in addition to the functions listed above. A controller of abattery of the present invention may contain one circuit that performseach of the desired functions, or may contain individual sub-controllersthat each perform one or more of the desired functions. In addition, thesub-controllers may share circuitry such as sensing circuitry that mayprovide control signals to the individual sub-controllers.

[0054] Throughout the Drawings, the last two digits of a numberspecifying a component is repeated on other figures for comparablecomponents, differentiated by a one or two digit prefix corresponding tothe figure. For example, a container 12 referenced in FIGS. 1-3 iscompared to a container 212 in FIG. 5A.

[0055] FIGS. 1-3 show typical cylindrical battery 10 structures that aresimplified for the purpose of discussion. Each cylindrical battery 10structure has the same basic structural elements arranged in differentconfigurations. In each case, the structure includes a container 12having a jacket or side wall 14, a top cap 16 including a positiveterminal 20, and a bottom cap 18 including a negative terminal 22. Thecontainer 12 encloses a single electrochemical cell 30. FIG. 1 shows aconfiguration that may be used for a cylindrical, single zinc-carbonelectrochemical cell 30 battery 10. In this configuration, the entiretop cap 16 is conductive and forms the positive terminal 20 of thebattery 10. The insulating washer or seal 24 insulates the conductivetop cap 16 from the electrochemical cell 30. The electrode or currentcollector 26 electrically connects the external positive terminal 20 ofthe battery 10 and the cathode (positive electrode) 32 of theelectrochemical cell 30. The bottom cap 18 is also entirely conductiveand forms the external negative terminal 22 of the battery 10. Thebottom cap is electrically connected to the anode (negative electrode)34 of the electrochemical cell 30. Separator 28 is disposed between theanode 34 and cathode 32 and provides the means for ion conductionthrough the electrolyte. A zinc-carbon battery, for example, istypically packaged in this type of arrangement.

[0056]FIG. 2 shows an alternative battery design in which an insulatingwasher or seal 25 is shown insulating the bottom cap 18 from theelectrochemical cell 30. In this case, the entire top cap 16 isconductive and forms the positive terminal 20 of the battery. The topcap 16 is electrically connected to the cathode 32 of theelectrochemical cell 30. The bottom cap 18, which is also conductive,forms the negative terminal 22 of the battery. The bottom cap 18 iselectrically connected to the anode 34 of the battery cell 30 via thecurrent collector 26. Separator 28 is disposed between the anode andcathode and provides the means for ion conduction through theelectrolyte. Primary and rechargeable alkaline (zinc/manganese dioxide)batteries, for example, are typically packaged in this type ofarrangement.

[0057]FIG. 3 shows another alternative battery design in which theelectrochemical cell 30 is formed in a “spirally wound jelly roll”structure. In this design, four layers are disposed adjacent each otherin a “laminate-type” structure. This “laminate-type” structure may, forexample, contain the following order of layers: a cathode layer 32, afirst separator layer 28, an anode layer 34 and a second separator layer28. Alternatively, the second separator layer 28 that is not disposedbetween the cathode 32 and the anode 34 layers may be replaced by aninsulating layer. This “laminate-type” structure is then rolled into acylindrical spirally wound jelly roll configuration and placed in thecontainer 12 of the battery 10. An insulating washer or seal 24 is showninsulating the top cap 16 from the electrochemical cell 30. In thiscase, the entire top cap 16 is conductive and forms the positiveterminal 20 of the battery 10. The top cap 16 is electrically connectedto the cathode layer 32 of the electrochemical cell 30 via currentcollector 26 and conductors 33. The bottom cap 18, which is alsoconductive, forms the negative terminal 22 of the battery. The bottomcap 18 is electrically connected to the anode 34 of the battery cell 30via conductive bottom plate 19. Separator layers 28 are disposed betweenthe cathode layer 32 and the anode layer 34 and provide the means forion conduction through the electrolyte. The side wall 14 is shownconnected to both the top cap 16 and the bottom cap 18. In this case,the side wall 14 is preferably formed of a non-conductive material suchas a polymer. The side wall, however, may also be made of a conductivematerial such as a metal if the side wall 14 is insulated from at leastthe positive terminal 20 and/or the negative terminal 22 so that it doesnot create a short-circuit between the two terminals. Primary andrechargeable lithium batteries such as a primary lithium manganesedioxide (MnO2) battery and rechargeable lithium ion, nickel cadmium(NiCd) and nicket metal hydrate (NiMH) batteries, for example, are oftenpackaged in this type of arrangement.

[0058] Each of these cells may also include various forms of safetyvents, operating vents for electrochemical cells that need air exchangefor operation, capacity indicators, labels, etc., which are well knownin the art. In addition, the cells may be constructed in otherstructures known in the art such as button cells, coin cells, prismaticcells, flat-plate, bipolar-plate, or thick/thin film-based cells, etc.

[0059] For the purpose of the present invention, the battery “container”12 houses a single electrochemical cell 30. The container 12 includesall the elements necessary to insulate and protect the two electrodes 32and 34, separator and the electrolyte of the electrochemical cell 30from the environment and from any other electrochemical cells in amultiple-cell battery and to provide electrical energy from theelectrochemical cell 30 outside of the container. Thus, the container 12in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a side wall 14, top 16 and bottom 18 caps, andpositive 20 and negative 22 terminals that provide for electricalconnection of the cell 30. In a multiple-cell battery, the container maybe an individual structure that contains a single electrochemical cell30, and this container 12 may be one of multiple individual containerswithin the multiple-cell battery. Alternatively, the container 12 may beformed by a portion of the housing of a multiple-cell battery if thehousing completely isolates the electrodes and the electrolyte of oneelectrochemical cell 30 from the environment and each other cell in thebattery. The container 12 may be made of a combination of conductingmaterial, such as metal, and insulating material, such as a plastic or apolymer.

[0060] The container 12, however, is to be distinguished from amultiple-cell battery housing that contains separated individuallyisolated alkaline cells 630 each containing its own electrodes andelectrolytes. For example, a standard alkaline 9 volt battery housingencloses six individual alkaline cells 630, each having their owncontainer 612, as shown in FIG. 6. Each alkaline cell 630 has aninternal positive terminal 620 connected to an external positiveterminal 621 and has an internal negative electrode 622 connected to anexternal negative terminal 623. Advantageously, each alkaline cell 630would include a controller 640 operating in a manner described herein.In some lithium 9 volt batteries, however, the housing 611 of thebattery is formed such that it has individual chambers that isolate theelectrodes and the electrolyte of the electrochemical cells 30, and thusthe housing comprises both the individual containers 12 for each celland the housing 611 for the entire multiple-cell battery 610.

[0061]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view, partially in section, of amultiple-cell 9 volt battery 610 of the present invention in which eachelectrochemical cell 630 has a controller 640 inside the cell'sindividual container 612. In this embodiment, the battery 610 containssix individual electrochemical cells 630, each having a nominal voltageof approximately 1.5 volts. The battery 610, for example, could alsocontain three lithium cells, each having a nominal voltage ofapproximately 3 volts apiece. Other multiple-cell battery constructionsare known in the art and may be used to house a controller 640 of thepresent invention. For example, multiple-cell batteries includeprismatic batteries, batteries having individual containers that are atleast substantially shrink-wrapped together, plastic housings thatcontain multiple single-cell containers such as camcorder and cellularphone batteries.

[0062]FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show partially exploded views of threeembodiments of the present invention for single-cell cylindrical primarybatteries 210, 310, and 410. In FIG. 5A, the controller 240 is placedbetween the top cap 216 and the insulating washer 224 of the battery210. The positive output 242 of the controller 240 is electricallyconnected to the positive terminal 220 of the battery 210, which isdirectly adjacent to the controller 240, and the negative output 244 ofthe controller 240 is electrically connected to the negative terminal222 of the battery 210. In this example, the negative output 244 of thecontroller 240 is connected to the negative terminal 222 of the battery210 via conductive strip 245, and conductive side wall 214, which is inelectrical contact with negative terminal 222 of the conductive bottomcap 218 of the battery 210. In this case, the conductive side wall mustbe electrically insulated from the top cap 216. The positive input 246of the controller 240 is electrically connected to the cathode 232 ofthe electrochemical cell 230 via current collector 226. The negativeinput 248 of controller 240 is electrically connected to the anode 234of the electrochemical cell 230 via conductive strip 237. Alternatively,the controller 240 may be placed between the bottom cap 218 and theinsulator 225, or attached, affixed or joined to the outside of thecontainer or the label of the battery. Separator 228 is disposed betweenthe anode conduction through the electrolyte of the electrochemical cell230.

[0063] In FIG. 5B, the controller 340 is placed between the bottom cap318 and the insulator 325 of the battery 310. The negative output 344 ofthe controller 340 is electrically connected to the negative terminal322 of the battery 310, which is directly adjacent to the controller340, and the positive output 342 of the controller 340 is electricallyconnected to the positive terminal 320 of the battery 310. In thisexample, the positive output 342 of the controller 340 is connected tothe positive terminal 320 of the battery 310 via conductive side wall314, which is in electrical contact with positive terminal 320 of theconductive top cap 316 of the battery 310. The positive input 346 of thecontroller 340 is electrically connected to the cathode 332 of theelectrochemical cell 330 via conductive strip 336. The negative input348 of controller 340 is electrically connected to the anode 334 of theelectrochemical cell 330 via current collector 326, which extends frombottom plate 319 into the anode 334 of the electrochemical cell 330. Insuch cases, the current collector 326 and the negative input 348 of thecontroller 340 must be insulated from the negative terminal 322 of thecontainer 312 and the negative output 344 of the controller 340 if thecontroller 340 uses a virtual ground. Alternatively, the controller 340may be placed between the top cap 316 and the insulator 324, orattached, affixed or joined to the outside of the container 312 or thelabel of the battery. Separator 328 is disposed between the anodeconduction through the electrolyte of the electrochemical cell 330.

[0064] In FIG. 5C, the controller 440 is formed on a wrapper 441 usingthick film printing technology, or flexible printed circuit boards(“PCBs”), and placed inside the container between the side wall 414 andthe cathode 432 of the battery 410. The positive output 442 of thecontroller 440 is electrically connected to the positive terminal 420 ofthe battery 410 via top cap 416 of the battery 410, and the negativeoutput 444 of the controller 440 is electrically connected to thenegative terminal 422 of the battery 410 via bottom plate 419 and bottomcap 418. The positive input 446 of the controller 440 is electricallyconnected to the cathode 432 of the electrochemical cell 430, which inthis example is directly adjacent to the wrapper 441 containing thecontroller 440. The negative input 448 of controller 440 is electricallyconnected to the anode 434 of the electrochemical cell 430 via contactplate 431 and the current collector 426, which extends from contactplate 431 into the anode 434 of the electrochemical cell 430. Insulatingwasher 427 isolates the contact plate 431 from the cathode 432. As shownin FIG. 5C, the insulating washer may also extend between the anode 434and contact plate 431 because current collector 426 provides theconnection from the anode 434 to the contact plate 431. If thecontroller 440 uses a virtual ground, the contact plate 431 must also beinsulated from the bottom plate 419 and the negative terminal 422 suchas by insulating washer 425. Alternatively, the wrapper 441 may also bedisposed on the outside of the container 412, wrapped around the outsideof the side wall 414. In such embodiments, the label may cover thewrapper, or the label may be printed on the same wrapper as thecontroller itself.

[0065]FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B show block diagrams of different embodiments ofthe battery 110 of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a block diagramof one embodiment of a battery 110 of the present invention utilizing anembedded integrated controller circuit 140. This embodiment preferablyutilizes a mixed-mode integrated circuit that has both digital andanalog components. The controller circuit could alternatively befabricated using an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), ahybrid chip design, a PC board or any other form of circuit fabricationtechnology known in the art. The controller circuit 140 may be placedinside the battery container 112 between the positive 132 and negative134 electrodes of the electrochemical cell 130 and the positive 120 andnegative 122 terminals of the battery. Thus, the controller 140 canconnect the electrochemical cell 130 to or disconnect theelectrochemical cell 130 from the terminals 120 and 122 of the container112, alter or stabilize the output voltage or the output impedance ofthe cell 130 that is applied to the battery terminals 120 and 122. FIG.4A shows one preferred embodiment of the battery 110 of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4A, the controller 140 is connectedbetween the positive electrode (cathode) 132 of the electrochemical cell130 and the positive terminal 120 of the battery container 112. Thenegative electrode (anode) 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 and thenegative terminal 122 of the battery container 112 share a common groundwith the controller 140. FIG. 4B, however, shows an alternativepreferred embodiment of the battery 110 of the present invention inwhich the controller 140 operates on a virtual ground and isolates thenegative electrode 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 from the negativeterminal 122 of the container 112 in addition to isolating the positiveelectrode 132 of the electrochemical cell 130 from the positive terminal120 of the container 112.

[0066] Each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B has its ownadvantages and disadvantages. The configuration of FIG. 4A, for example,allows for a simpler circuit design having a common ground for thevoltaic cell 130, the controller 140 and the negative terminal 122 ofthe battery container 112. The configuration of FIG. 4A, however, hasthe disadvantage of requiring a converter to work under true cellvoltage levels and may require the use of an inductor element. In theconfiguration of FIG. 4B, the virtual ground applied to the negativeterminal 122 of the battery container 112 both isolates the negativeelectrode 134 of the electrochemical cell 130 from the load and allowsfor the use of a DC/DC converter or charge pump. This configuration,however, has the disadvantage of requiring the increased circuitcomplexity of a virtual ground in order to allow a voltage converter ofthe controller 140 to continue to operate more efficiently when the cellvoltage is low (<1 V).

[0067]FIG. 4C shows yet another embodiment of a battery 110 of thepresent invention having an integrated controller circuit 140 whereinthe controller circuit 140 includes four main components: a dischargesub-controller circuit 102, a charge sub-controller circuit 104, anemergency sub-controller circuit 106, and a sensing circuit 105 thatprovides voltage control signals to the discharge sub-controller circuit102 and/or the charge sub-controller circuit 104 based upon continuouslyor intermittently sensed operating parameters and/or physicalconditions. The sensing circuit 105 may measure operating parameters ofthe electrochemical cell 130 such as the cell voltage, current drawnfrom the cell, phase shift between the cell voltage and current, etc.Additionally, the sensing circuit 105 may measure operating parametersof the integrated controller circuit 140 such as the output voltage andcurrent levels, charging voltage and current levels, etc. Further, thesensing circuit may also measure physical conditions of theelectrochemical cell such as the temperature, pressure, pH, the hydrogenand/or the oxygen concentration, etc. The sensing circuit 105 maymeasure any combination of these sufficient to effectively monitor theelectrochemical cell during a charge or discharge cycle as is known inthe art or described below.

[0068] The integrated controller circuit 140 of a battery 110 of thepresent invention, however, need not perform each of the functionslisted above. The controller circuit 140, for example, may have only twoor three of the components listed above such as a dischargesub-controller circuit 102 and a sensing circuit 105, a chargesub-controller circuit 104 and a sensing circuit 105, an emergencysub-controller circuit 106 and a sensing circuit 105, or any combinationof these. Alternatively, the controller circuit 140 may not have asensing circuit 105 if the discharge sub-controller circuit 102, thecharge sub-controller circuit 104, and/or the emergency sub-controllercircuit 106 that are included in a specific embodiment of the controllercircuit 140 contain their own internal sensing circuitry necessary toperform their respective function(s). In addition, either the dischargesub-controller circuit 102, the charge sub-controller circuit 104, orboth may perform the function of the emergency sub-controller 106 aswell. The controller circuit 140 may also have one or more of thesub-controllers or the sensing circuit listed above along with othersub-controllers that perform functions in addition to the thosefunctions listed above.

[0069] The discharge sub-controller circuit 102 controls the dischargeof the electrochemical cell(s) 130 of the battery 110 in order toprovide a longer service run time of the battery by providing a safedeep discharge to use more of a primary battery's stored energy or byoptimally using the stored energy of a rechargeable battery beforerecharging. The charge sub-controller circuit 104 safely and efficientlycontrols the charging of the electrochemical cell(s) 130 of the battery110 in which the controller circuit 140 is integrated. The emergencysub-controller 106 disconnects the electrochemical cell(s) from thebattery terminals when the sensing circuit 105 detects an unsafecondition such as a short circuit, an inverse polarity, an overchargecondition, or an over discharge condition. The emergency sub-controller106 also provides electrical connection to by pass discharge controllerif load requires high safe current that, however, exceeds controllerdeliverable current rate.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment of a primary battery of the presentinvention, however, the controller 140 would preferably include thedischarge sub-controller circuit 102, the emergency sub-controller 106and the sensing circuit 105. The sensing circuit 105 preferablycontinuously monitors the operating parameters and the physicalconditions of the electrochemical cell 130. The discharge sub-controllercircuit 102 preferably provides a safer, deeper discharge of primaryelectrochemical cell(s) 130 of the battery 110 in order to provide alonger service run time before the battery is thrown away. The emergencysub-controller circuit 106 preferably disconnects the electrochemicalcell(s) from the battery terminals 120, 122 when the sensing circuitdetects an unsafe condition or provides bypass connection if loadrequired current rate exceeds controller capability but is within safecell discharge current range.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment of a rechargeable battery 110 of thepresent invention, the controller circuit 140 may additionally include acharge sub-controller circuit 104. The charge sub-controller circuit 104safely and efficiently controls the charging of the electrochemicalcell(s) 130 of the battery 110 in which the controller circuit 140 isintegrated. The sensing circuit 105 preferably continuously and directlymonitors the operating parameters of the controller circuit 140 and thephysical conditions in the electrochemical cell(s) 130. For example, thesensing circuit 105 may monitor the cell voltage, the charging current,the internal impedance of the electrochemical cell(s), hydrogen oroxygen concentration, pH, temperature, pressure, or any other operatingparameter or physical condition known in the art.

[0072] In a particularly preferred embodiment, each electrochemical cellhas its own integrated controller circuit 140 that monitors theconditions in that particular cell. By directly monitoring theconditions of each particular cell, the charge sub-controller 105 canprovide better safety and efficiency than a known charging controllerthat monitors a battery having multiple electrochemical cells. Thecharge sub-controller 105 minimizes losses by utilizing theinstantaneous charge value of the cell(s) and the maximum capacity ofthe cell to continuously optimize the charging conditions.

[0073] Each controller may include one or more of the followingsub-controllers: (1) a discharge sub-controller 102, (2) a chargesub-controller 104 and/or (3) an emergency sub-controller 106. For easeof discussion, the controller functions are described in terms ofsub-controllers. Actual realization of the controller 140 of the presentinvention, however, does not require independent circuit implementationsfor each function because multiple functions that are performed by thecontroller may be, and preferably are, combined into a single circuit.For example, each sub-controller may have its own internal sensingcircuits for measuring one or more operating parameters of thecontroller and/or physical conditions of the electrochemical cell(s), oran independent sensing circuit may measure the parameters and/orconditions and provide them and/or control signals related to theparameters and/or conditions to one or more of the sub-controllers.Further, a controller may have additional or alternative sub-controllersthat perform other functions in addition to one or more of the functionslisted here.

Discharge Sub-controller

[0074] The discharge sub-controller 102 may extend the service run timeof a primary or rechargeable battery of the present invention in one ofseveral ways. First, in the case of a multiple-cell battery thatcontains at least one primary electrochemical cell, or at least onerechargeable cell that is preferably completely discharged before beingcharged (e.g., a NiCd cell is preferably discharged up to about 100%,but no more), the sub-controller may allow one or more of theelectrochemical cell(s) of the battery to be more deeply discharged byan electronic device than would be otherwise possible. For example, thedischarge sub-controller may allow a single-cell battery to dischargebeyond the point where the cell voltage has dropped below the cut-offvoltage of the device. In the case of a primary battery, the service runtime of the battery may be increased by discharging the electrochemicalcell(s) as deeply as possible before throwing the battery away. In arechargeable battery, however, the battery service run time is increasedby discharging the electrochemical cells to the optimal discharge depth.Thus, if the optimal discharge depth of a rechargeable electrochemicalcell is below the cut-off voltage of the device which the rechargeablebattery is powering, the service run time of the rechargeable batterymay be increased if the rechargeable cell is allowed to discharge beyondthe cut-off voltage of that device.

[0075] In this application, the term “deep discharge” refers to allowingthe electrochemical cell(s) to be discharged to at least 80% of therated capacity of the electrochemical cell(s). In addition, the term“substantial discharge” in this application refers to allowing theelectrochemical cell(s) to be discharged to at least 70% of the ratedcapacity of the electrochemical cell(s). “Over-discharge” is referred toin this application as discharging the electrochemical cell beyond 100%,which may lead to a voltage reversal. A typical alkaline battery on themarket today, for example, is generally capable of deliveringapproximately 40 to 70% of its stored energy capacity before the voltagelevel of the electrochemical cell drops to a voltage level that isinsufficient to drive a given electronic device. Thus, a sub-controllerof the present invention preferably provides an alkaline cell that iscapable of greater than about 70% discharge before the battery cuts off.More preferably, the sub-controller provides a discharge level ofgreater than about 80%. Even more preferably, the sub-controllerprovides a discharge level of greater than about 90%, with greater thanabout 95% being the most preferred.

[0076] The discharge sub-controller 102 may include a converter thatconverts the cell voltage to a desired output voltage of a primary orrechargeable battery. In a primary battery, this allows a deeperdischarge of the electrochemical cell(s) and thereby extends the servicerun time of the battery. In a rechargeable battery, however, theconverter allows the controller to discharge the rechargeable battery tothe optimal discharge depth independent of the cut-off voltage of agiven device. In one embodiment of the present invention, thesub-controller may continuously convert the cell voltage to a desiredoutput voltage over the run time of the battery. When the cell voltagedrops to the level of the device cut-off voltage where the batterydischarge would normally cut-off, the converter is boosting, or steppingup, the cell voltage to a level at the output of the battery that issufficient to continue to drive the device until the voltage level dropsbelow the minimum required voltage to drive the sub-controller or to anoptimal discharge depth for a rechargeable electrochemical cell. Thus, abattery having a sub-controller design that is capable of operating at alower voltage level than the sub-controller of another battery willprovide a battery capable of being more deeply discharged independent ofthe cell voltage level.

[0077] In the case of a hybrid cell, the discharge sub-controller mayinclude a low voltage converter that converts the voltage of voltaiccells to a desired output voltage of a primary or rechargeable battery.The discharge sub-controller 102 may continuously convert the voltaiccell voltage to a desired output voltage over the run time of theprimary or secondary battery. Thus, a hybrid battery having asub-controller design that is capable of operating at a lower voltagelevel than the sub-controller of another battery will provide a batterycapable of being compatible with typical low voltage generated by manyvoltaic cells, such as photo, fuel, thermal, and mechanical cells.Voltaic cells discharge sub-controller 102 may provide additional energyif the hybrid battery contains a primary cell. Discharge sub-controllermay also use voltaic cells to charge secondary cells or provideadditional energy.

[0078] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the converteroperates only when the cell voltage falls to or below a predeterminedvoltage level. In such embodiments, the internal losses of the converterare minimized because the converter operates only when necessary. Thepredetermined voltage level is preferably in the range from the nominalvoltage of the electrochemical cell to the highest cut-off voltage ofthe class of devices for which the battery is intended to operate. Morepreferably, the predetermined voltage level is slightly greater than thehighest cut-off voltage of the class of devices for which the battery isintended to operate. For example, the predetermined voltage level may bein the range from about the highest cut-off voltage of the class ofdevices for which the battery is intended to operate to about 0.2 voltsplus that cut-off voltage, preferably in the range from about thehighest cut-off voltage of the class of devices for which the battery isintended to operate to about 0.15 volts plus that cut-off voltage, morepreferably in the range from about the highest cut-off voltage of theclass of devices for which the battery is intended to operate to about0.1 volts plus that cut-off voltage, and even more preferably in therange from about the highest cut-off voltage of the class of devices forwhich the battery is intended to operate to about 0.05 volts plus thatcut-off voltage. For example, an electrochemical cell having a nominalvoltage of about 1.5 volts generally has a predetermined voltage is inthe range between about 0.8 volts and about 1.8 volts. Preferably, thepredetermined voltage is in the range between about 0.9 volts and about1.6 volts. More preferably, the predetermined voltage is in the rangebetween about 0.9 volts and about 1.5 volts. Even more preferably, thepredetermined voltage is in the range between about 0.9 volts and about1.2 volts, with the range between about 1.0 volts and about 1.2 voltsbeing yet even more preferred. The voltage level of slightly greaterthan or equal to the highest cut-off voltage of the class of devices forwhich the battery is intended to operate being the most preferred. Asub-controller designed for operation with an electrochemical cellhaving a nominal voltage of about 3.0 volts, however, generally may havea predetermined voltage level is in the range from about 2.0 volts toabout 3.4 volts. Preferably, the predetermined voltage is in the rangefrom about 2.2 volts to about 3.2 volts. More preferably, thepredetermined voltage is in the range from about 2.4 volts to about 3.2volts. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage is in the rangefrom about 2.6 volts to about 3.2 volts, with the range from about 2.8volts to about 3.0 volts being yet even more preferred. The voltagelevel of slightly greater than or equal to the highest cut-off voltageof the class of devices for which the battery is intended to operatebeing the most preferred.

[0079] When the cell voltage falls to or below the predetermined voltagelevel, the discharge sub-controller turns the converter on and booststhe cell voltage to a desired output voltage sufficient to drive theload. This eliminates losses of the converter that are not necessarywhen the cell voltage is high enough to drive the load, but then allowsthe electrochemical cell to continue to discharge even after the cellvoltage drops below the level required to drive the load until the cellvoltage reaches the minimum operating voltage of the converter in thecase of a primary cell or, in the case of a rechargeable cell, until thecell voltage of the cell reaches the optimal discharge depth. Thesub-controller may use any one or more of a number of control mechanismsfrom a simple voltage comparator and electronic switch combination thatturns on the converter when the cell voltage drops to the predeterminedvoltage level, to more complex control schemes such as the onesdescribed below.

[0080] A universal battery of the present invention that is designed fora given output voltage is preferably able to extend the service run timeof the battery when it is used to power a device. As used in thisapplication, a “universal” battery is a battery that can provide auniform or standard output voltage independent of the cellelectrochemistry or voltaic cell physical mechanism. Thus, the batteryof the present invention is preferably designed to extend its servicerun time by maintaining the output voltage of the battery at a levelgreater than or equal to the cut-off voltage of a given device until thebuilt-in sub-controller shuts down when the voltage of the primaryelectrochemical cell(s) drops to a level below which the sub-controllercan no longer operate, or when a rechargeable electrochemical cell dropsto its optimal discharge depth. A battery of the present invention thatis designed to power a specific electronic device or a narrow class orelectronic devices that have similar cut-off voltages may bespecifically designed to operate more efficiently by matching thepredetermined voltage level to the cut-off voltage(s) of those device(s)more closely.

[0081] Second, the discharge sub-controller 102 may also be used toextend the service run time of a rechargeable electrochemical cell byoptimally discharging the cell in order to increase the number or theefficiency of charge cycles. In a sealed lead-acid cell, for example, adeep discharge may damage the cell and/or reduce the number or theefficiency of future recharge cycles. The sub-controller may, forexample, control the discharge of a particular type of rechargeableelectrochemical cell so that the discharge cycle is ended when the cellvoltage reaches a predetermined voltage level that is the optimaldischarge depth for that type of or that particular electrochemicalcell. In a lead-acid rechargeable electrochemical cell, for example, thepredetermined voltage level is in the range from about 0.7 volts toabout 1.6 volts, with about 0.7 volts being more preferred. In a lithiumMnO2 rechargeable electrochemical cell, for example, the predeterminedvoltage level is in the range from about 2.0 volts to about 3.0 volts,with about 2.4 volts being the most preferred. Alternatively, thedischarge sub-controller may also end the discharge cycle when theinternal impedance of the rechargeable electrochemical cell reaches apredetermined impedance level that corresponds to the maximum desireddischarge depth for that type of or that particular electrochemicalcell. Thus, in a battery of the present invention that contains at leastone rechargeable electrochemical cell that is preferably not deeplydischarged beyond an optimal discharge depth, a discharge sub-controllermay be used to increase the service run time of the battery by endingthe discharge cycle when the cell voltage reaches a predeterminedvoltage level or when the cell internal impedance reaches apredetermined internal impedance level or as indicated by anyappropriate built-in chemical sensor.

[0082] Third, the discharge sub-controller may also step down the cellvoltage of electrochemical cell(s) having a nominal voltage greater thanthe desired output voltage and/or alter the output impedance of theelectrochemical cell(s) of a battery. This not only extends the run timeof the batteries, but also allows for greater interchangeability betweenelectrochemical cells having different nominal voltages than isotherwise possible, allows designers to take advantage of the greaterstorage potential of electrochemical cells having a higher nominalvoltage, and allows designers to alter the output impedance of a certainelectrochemical cell in order to match the impedance to a desired leveleither to increase the interchangeability of the electrochemical cellwith other types of electrochemical cells, and/or to increase theefficiency of the electrochemical cell with a particular type of load.In addition, electrochemical cells that are inefficient, hazardous tothe environment, expensive, etc. and are used generally only because aparticular nominal voltage is required, such as a mercury cadmium cell,may be replaced by safer, more efficient or cheaper electrochemicalcells having their nominal voltage stepped up or stepped down or theiroutput impedance altered in order to meet the required nominal voltageor output impedance required by the application.

[0083] For example, an electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage ofabout 1.8 volts or higher can be packaged with a sub-controller thatsteps down this higher nominal voltage to the standard nominal level ofabout 1.5 volts so that the battery may be used interchangeably with abattery having a nominal voltage of about 1.5 volts. In one specificexample, a standard lithium cell such as a primary lithium MnO2 cellhaving a nominal voltage of approximately 3.0 volts may be packaged in abattery with a step down sub-controller so that the battery has anoutput voltage of approximately 1.5 volts. This provides a batteryhaving at least two times more capacity than a battery having anelectrochemical cell with a nominal voltage of about 1.5 volts and thesame volume. In addition, it also provides a high voltage lithium cellthat is truly interchangeable with a standard alkaline or zinc-carbonsingle-cell battery, without the need to chemically reduce the lithiumhigh potential. Further, a rechargeable lithium ion cell has a nominalvoltage of about 4.0 volts. The cell may be packaged in a battery with astep-down controller so that the single-cell battery has an outputvoltage of about 1.4 volts. The lithium ion battery of the presentinvention may be interchangeable with a standard single-cell NiCd orNiMH rechargeable battery, but would be able to provide about two tothree times the capacity of a single-cell NiCd or NiMH battery havingthe same volume.

[0084] Additionally, batteries having electrochemical cells such as alithium ion, magnesium, magnesium air and aluminum air also have nominalvoltages above about 1.8 volts and can be used interchangeably with astandard battery having a nominal voltage of about 1.5 volts. Not onlycan different types of electrochemical cells be used interchangeably,but different types of electrochemical cells can be packaged together ina hybrid battery. Thus, different types of batteries having differentelectrochemical cells with various nominal voltages or internalimpedance may be used interchangeably, or hybrid batteries may bemanufactured having different types of electrochemical cells and voltaiccells such as photo, thermal, fuel, mechanical, etc.

[0085] Alternatively, electrochemical cells that have nominal voltagesbelow that which a typical electronic device will operate may be usedwith a discharge sub-controller 102 having a built-in step-up converterto boost the nominal voltage. This allows a battery having this type ofelectrochemical cell to be used with a device that requires a highervoltage level than the cell would otherwise provide. In addition, thebattery having this type of cell may also be used interchangeably with astandard alkaline or a zinc-carbon electrochemical cell. This mayprovide commercially-feasible, usable batteries having electrochemicalcells that have not otherwise been considered for consumer use becausethe nominal voltages were too low to be practical.

[0086] Additionally, several voltaic cells that have nominal voltagesbelow that which a typical electronic device will operate may be usedwith a discharge sub-controller having a built-in step-up converter toboost the nominal voltage. This allows a hybrid battery having this typeof voltaic cell to be used with a device that requires a higher voltagelevel than the cell would otherwise provide. In addition, the batteryhaving this type of cell may also be used interchangeably with astandard alkaline or a zinc-carbon electrochemical cell. This mayprovide commercially-feasible, usable batteries having hybrid cells thathave not otherwise been considered for consumer use because the nominalvoltages were too low to be practical.

[0087] Table 1 is not meant to be exclusive, but rather lists exemplaryprimary, secondary and reserve electrochemical cells that may be used ina battery of the present invention. For example, different types ofprimary and/or rechargeable electrochemical cells that have differentnominal voltages or internal impedance may be used with a converter tocreate a universal single-cell battery that has the same output voltageas a standard 1.5 volt alkaline primary or rechargeable battery or astandard 1.4 volt NiCd rechargeable battery. In addition, the primary,secondary and/or reserve cells may be used together in a hybridmultiple-cell battery of the present invention. Indeed, the presentinvention allows greater interchangeability between various types ofelectrochemical cells, and between electrochemical cells and alternativepower supplies such as fuel cells, capacitors, etc. than ever before. Byplacing a controller in each electrochemical cell, the electricalcharacteristics such as the nominal voltage and the output impedance ofdifferent types of electrochemical cells can be adjusted in order toallow a larger variety of cells to be used in making interchangeablebatteries. Batteries may be specially designed to take advantage ofparticular advantages of an electrochemical cell, while still permittinginterchangeability with batteries that contain other types of cells.Further, the present invention may be used to create new standardvoltage levels by converting the nominal voltages of electrochemicalcells to the voltage levels of the standards.

[0088] The same is true for physical mechanisms other than chemical usedfor generating electric energy. Typical single photo, thermal, fuel, andmechanical (e.g., PST) cell have their output voltage far below standarddevice or other electrochemical cell voltage. The present inventionallows to combine low voltage voltaic and standard electrochemicalsystem in a single hybrid cell or independent cells to power devicesrequiring voltage equal or different than hybrid cell or independentcells. TABLE 1 Electrochemical Cell Types and Nominal Voltages NominalNominal Type of Cell Voltage Type of Cell Voltage Primary Cells Mercad0.9 volts Lithium FeS2 1.6 volts Mercuric Oxide 1.35 voltsMagnesium-Organic 1.6 volts electrolyte Mercuric Oxide 1.4 voltsMagnesium MnO2 2.8 volts with MnO2 Zinc-Air 1.4 volts Lithium-SolidElectrolyte 2.8 volts Carbon-Zinc 1.5 volts Lithium MnO2 3.0 voltsZinc-Chloride 1.5 volts Lithium (CF)n 3.0 volts Alkaline MnO2 1.5 voltsLithium SO2 3.0 volts Silver-Oxide 1.5 volts Lithium SOC12 3.6 voltsSecondary Cells Silver-cadmium 1.1 volts Zinc-bromine 1.6 volts Edison(Fe-Ni 1.2 volts High Temperature Li 1.7 volts oxide) (Al)-FeS2Nickel-cadmium 1.2 volts Aluminum-air 1.9 volts Nickel Metal 1.2 voltsLead-acid 2.0 volts Hydride Nickel Hydrogen 1.2 volts High TemperatureNa-S 2.0 volts Silver-zinc 1.5 volts Lithium-polymer Li-V6O13 3.0 voltsZinc-air 1.5 volts Lithium-ion C-LixCoO2 4.0 volts Nickel-zinc 1.6 voltsReserve Cells Cuprous Chloride 1.3 volts Thermal Li-FeS2 2.0 voltsZinc/silver oxide 1.5 volts

[0089] In addition, otherwise incompatible electrochemical cells may beused together in hybrid batteries specially designed for particulartypes of applications. For example, a zinc-air electrochemical cell maybe used together either in parallel or in series with a lithium cell ina hybrid battery. The zinc-air cell has a nominal voltage of about 1.5volts and a very high energy density, but can only provide low, steadycurrent levels. The lithium cell, however, has a nominal voltage levelof about 3.0 volts and can provide short bursts of high current levels.The discharge sub-controllers of each electrochemical cell provide thesame nominal output voltage and allow for an arrangement either in aparallel or series electrical configuration. When the cells are in aparallel configuration, the sub-controllers also prevent the cells fromcharging one another. The sub-controller for each cell can be used toconnect or disconnect either or both of the cells as needed by the load.Thus, when the load is in a low power mode, the zinc-air cell can beconnected to provide a steady, low current, and, when the load is in ahigh power mode, the lithium cell or the lithium and the zinc-air cellsin combination can provide the current necessary to power the load.

[0090] Hybrid batteries may also contain many different combinations ofelectrochemical cells such as primary and secondary cells, primary andreserve cells, secondary and reserve cells, or primary, secondary andreserve cells. Further, a hybrid battery may also contain a combinationof one or more electrochemical cells and one or more additional powersupplies such as a photo, thermal, fuel or mechanical cell, aconventional capacitor or even a super/ultra-capacitor. For example, ahybrid battery may contain combinations such as alkaline and metal-aircells, metal-air and a secondary cells, a metal-air cell and a supercapacitor. Moreover, hybrid batteries may also contain any combinationof two or more of the above-mentioned cells or power supplies.

[0091] Further, the discharge sub-controller may also extend the servicerun time of a battery by protecting the electrochemical cell(s) fromcurrent peaks that can impair the operation of the electrochemical cellcomponents and lower the cell voltage. For example, the sub-controllermay prevent high current demands from creating a memory effect in thecell and decreasing the run time of the electrochemical cell(s). Thecurrent peaks are also harmful to electrochemical cells such asalkaline, lithium, NiCd, SLA, metal hydride and zinc-air cells.

[0092] The discharge sub-controller may protect the electrochemical cellfrom current peaks by providing a temporary storage of electrical chargeat the output of the sub-controller so that the temporary storage may beutilized upon immediate demand. Therefore, a current peak demand may becompletely eliminated or significantly reduced before it reaches theelectrochemical cell. This both allows a battery to provide currentpeaks higher than the electrochemical cell(s) can provide directly andprotects the electrochemical cell(s) from current peaks that may bedetrimental to the cell components. The temporary storage element ispreferably a capacitor. This capacitor may be any type of capacitor thatis known in the art such as a conventional capacitor, a thick-filmprinted capacitor or even a “super/ultra-capacitor.” FIG. 13, forexample, shows capacitor Cf connected across the output terminals 1320and 1322 of the container 1312.

[0093] A single discharge sub-controller will preferably extend theservice run time of the battery by both protecting the cell againstcurrent peaks and by converting the cell voltage to a desired outputvoltage. For example, a preferred embodiment of the sub-controller canturn a converter on when the cell voltage drops to a predeterminedvoltage in order to minimize losses associated with the converter. Thesame sub-controller can monitor both the cell voltage and the outputload current and turn on the converter if either the cell voltagereaches the predetermined voltage level or the load current reaches apredetermined current level. Alternatively, the sub-controller maymonitor both the cell voltage and the output load current and determineif supplying the required load current will drop the cell voltage belowa cut-off voltage level. In the latter example, the sub-controller isoperating upon two input signals combined in an algorithm to determineif the converter should be turned on. In the former example, however,the sub-controller turns on the converter if either the cell voltagedrops to a predetermined voltage level, or the output load current risesto a predetermined current level. These, along with other possiblecontrol schemes, are discussed in more detail below.

[0094] The present invention relates to specialized batteries as well asstandard consumer batteries, such as AAAA, AAA, AA, C, or D cells, and 9volt batteries. The invention contemplates the use of specializedprimary batteries, and hybrid batteries that could be used in variousapplications. It is anticipated that these specialized batteries andhybrid batteries could be used to replace rechargeable batteries foruses such as for cellular telephones, laptop computers, etc., which arecurrently limited by the ability of primary batteries to provide therequired current rate over a sufficient period of time. In addition,being able to individually control the output voltage and outputimpedance of the cells will allow battery designers to design entirelynew types of hybrid batteries that use different types of cells incombination or alternative power supplies, such as photo, thermal, fuel,or mechanical cells, conventional capacitors or even“super/ultra-capacitors,” in the same hybrid battery.

[0095] The increase of interchangeable types of electrochemical cellscould also allow battery designers to provide standard primary orrechargeable batteries to decrease the reliance upon batteries customdesigned for particular devices such as cellular telephones, laptopcomputers, camcorders, cameras, etc. A consumer could simply purchasestandard batteries to power a cellular telephone, much like a consumerwould presently purchase for a flashlight or tape recorder, instead ofhaving to purchase a battery specifically manufactured for theparticular type, brand and/or model electronic device. In addition, asthe number of standard batteries manufactured increased, the cost perunit would rapidly decrease, resulting in much more affordable batteriesthat could ultimately replace specially designed rechargeable batteries.Further, primary and rechargeable batteries could also be usedinterchangeably with each other. For example, if the rechargeablebatteries of a laptop computer were exhausted, the user could purchaseprimary batteries that would last for several hours of use until theuser could charge the rechargeable batteries. The user could alsopurchase less expensive batteries if the user did not need certainhigher-performance levels that could be provided by the device with moreexpensive batteries.

[0096] Electronic labeling technology such as that used on photographicfilm, etc. could also be used to designate the exact type of cell(s) inthe battery, rated and/or remaining capacity of the cell(s), peak andoptimal current delivery capabilities, current charge level, internalimpedance, etc. so that a “smart” device could read the electroniclabeling and optimize its consumption to enhance the performance of thedevice, to extend the service run time of the battery, etc. A camera,which already utilizes electronic labeling to determine film speed, forexample, could also utilize electronic labeling technology with itsbatteries to allow for a slower charge time of the flash, stop use ofthe flash, etc. in order to optimize the service run time of aparticular battery. A laptop could also utilize electronic labelingtechnology to determine the most efficient operating parameters forparticular batteries by, for example, changing its operating speed inorder to best use the remaining charge in the battery for a durationdesired by a user, or utilizing power on/power off technology toconserve energy of the battery. In addition, camcorders, cellulartelephones, etc. could also utilize electronic labeling to optimize theusage of batteries.

[0097] The present invention also relates to standard consumer batteriessuch as AAA, AA, C or D cells, and 9 volt batteries. In addition toprimary batteries being interchangeable with different types of primaryor even rechargeable batteries, standard primary or rechargeablebatteries may be available for applications in which onlycustom-designed batteries are presently available. Depending on theirneeds, for example, consumers could purchase one or more standardprimary or rechargeable batteries that they could put directly intotheir laptop computers, camcorders, cellular telephones, and otherportable electronic equipment. As mentioned above, as the number ofstandard batteries manufactured increased, the cost per unit wouldrapidly decrease, resulting in much more affordable batteries that couldultimately replace specially designed rechargeable batteries.

[0098] In order to increase the service run time of primary batteries orrechargeable batteries that have a relatively low optimal dischargedepth, the discharge sub-controller can be designed to operate at evenlower voltages as circuit manufacturing technology advances. A dischargesub-controller, for example can be designed to operate at voltage levelsas low as about 0.1 volts in a silicon carbide (“SiC”) embodiment, about0.34 volts in a gallium arsenide (“GaAs”) embodiment, and about 0.54volts in a conventional silicon-based embodiment. In addition, asprinting size decreases, these minimum operating voltages will decreaseas well. In silicon, for example, decreasing the circuit printing to0.18 micron technology would decrease the minimum operating voltage fromabout 0.54 to about 0.4 volts. As described above, the lower the minimumrequired operating voltage of the discharge sub-controller, the lowerthat the discharge sub-controller can regulate the cell voltage in orderto provide the deepest discharge of a primary electrochemical cell or tooptimally discharge a rechargeable electrochemical cell down to a lowoptimal discharge depth. Thus, it is within the comprehension of thisinvention to utilize different advances of in circuit fabrication toincrease the battery utilization up to approximately 100% of the storedcharge of the electrochemical cell. The present silicon-basedembodiment, however, provides up to a 95% usage of the battery storagepotential, which is quite high in comparison to the average 40-70% usageof primary electrochemical cells without a controller.

[0099] In one silicon-based preferred embodiment, for example, thedischarge sub-controller 102 is designed to operate at voltages as lowas about 1 volt, more preferably about 0.85 volts, even more preferablyabout 0.8 volts, yet even more preferably about 0.75 volts, even morepreferably about 0.7 volts, yet even more preferably about 0.65 volts,even more preferably about 0.6 volts, with about 0.54 volts being themost preferred. In a sub-controller designed for an electrochemical cellhaving a nominal voltage of about 1.5 volts, the sub-controller ispreferably capable of operating at an input voltage at least as high asabout 1.6 volts. More preferably, the discharge sub-controller iscapable of operating at an input voltage of at least as high as about1.8 volts. Thus, a preferred sub-controller should be able to operate ina voltage range from a minimum of about 0.8 volts to at least 1.6 volts.The sub-controller may, and preferably does, however, operate outside ofthat range as well.

[0100] In a preferred embodiment of a discharge sub-controller 102 ofthe present invention designed for use with an electrochemical cell 30such as a primary lithium MnO2 cell having a nominal voltage of about3.0 volts, however, the sub-controller must be able to operate at ahigher voltage level than is required for a discharge sub-controllerused in conjunction with an electrochemical cell having a nominalvoltage of about 1.5 volts. In the case of an electrochemical cellhaving a nominal voltage of about 3.0 volts, the dischargesub-controller is preferably able to operate in the range from about 2.4volts to about 3.2 volts. The sub-controller more preferably is capableof operating in a voltage range from about 0.8 volts to at least about3.2 volts. More preferably, the sub-controller is capable of operatingwith an input voltage in the range from about 0.6 volts to at leastabout 3.4 volts. Even more preferably, the sub-controller is capable ofoperating with an input voltage in the range from about 0.54 volts to atleast about 3.6 volts, with the range from about 0.45 volts to at leastabout 3.8 volts being the most preferred. The sub-controller may, andpreferably does, however, operate outside of that range as well.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment of a discharge sub-controller 102 ofthe present invention designed for use with an electrochemical cell 30such as a rechargeable lithium ion cell having a nominal voltage ofabout 4.0 volts, however, the sub-controller must be able to operate atan even higher voltage level than is required for a dischargesub-controller used in conjunction with an electrochemical cell having anominal voltage of about 3.0 or about 1.5 volts. In the case of anelectrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of about 4.0 volts, thedischarge sub-controller is preferably able to operate in the range fromabout 2.0 volts to about 4.0 volts. The sub-controller more preferablyis capable of operating in a voltage range from about 0.8 volts to atleast about 4.0 volts. More preferably, the sub-controller is capable ofoperating with an input voltage in the range from about 0.6 volts to atleast about 4.0 volts. Even more preferably, the sub-controller iscapable of operating with an input voltage in the range from about 0.54volts to at least about 4.0 volts, with the range from about 0.45 voltsto at least about 4.0 volts being the most preferred. The sub-controllermay, and preferably does, however, operate outside of that range aswell.

[0102] An alternative preferred embodiment is capable of operation withan electrochemical cell having a nominal voltage of either about 1.5volts or about 3.0 volts. In this embodiment the dischargesub-controller is capable of operating with a minimum input voltage ofabout 0.8 volts, preferably about 0.7 volts, more preferably about 0.6volts and most preferably about 0.54 volts, and a maximum input voltageof at least about 3.2 volts, preferably about 3.4 volts, more preferablyabout 3.6 volts and most preferably about 3.8 volts. For example, thedischarge sub-controller may be capable of operating in the range fromabout 0.54 volts to about 3.4 volts, or from about 0.54 volts to about3.8 volts, or from about 0.7 volts to about 3.8 volts, etc.

[0103] The batteries of the present invention also provide distinctadvantages over typical batteries when used with electric devices suchas flashlights, etc. that do not have a cut-off voltage. With a typicalbattery, as the battery is discharged, the output voltage of the batterydecreases. Because the output power of the electric device is directlyproportional to the voltage supplied by the battery, the output of theelectric device decreases proportionately with the battery outputvoltage. For example, the intensity of a flashlight light bulb willcontinue to dim as the output voltage of the battery decreases until thebattery is fully discharged. The battery of the present invention,however, has a discharge sub-controller that regulates the cell voltageinto a relatively constant, controlled voltage level over the entiredischarge cycle of the battery until the electrochemical cell 30 voltagedecreases to a level below which the sub-controller is capable ofoperating. At that time, the battery will shut down, and the electricdevice will stop operating. During the discharge cycle, however, theelectric device will continue to provide a relatively steady output(e.g., bulb intensity) and full functionality until the battery shutsdown.

[0104] A preferred embodiment of a battery of the present invention alsoincludes a low remaining charge warning to the user as well as remainingcapacity indicator. The discharge sub-controller, for example, maydisconnect and reconnect the electrochemical cell(s) from the outputterminals of the battery intermittently for a short duration of timewhen the electrochemical cell voltage reaches a predetermined value.This may provide a visible, audible, vibrational, or device readableindication that the battery capacity is running down. Additionally, thesub-controller could also artificially recreate conditions of anaccelerated battery discharge condition by decreasing the output voltageof the battery at the end of the life of the battery. For example, thesub-controller could begin ramping down the output voltage when thebattery storage capacity is at about 5% of its rated capacity. Thiscould provide an indication to the user such as a decreasing volume in atape or compact disc player, or provide an indication to the device,which could warn the user accordingly.

[0105]FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the presentinvention in which the DC/DC converter 750 of the dischargesub-controller 702 is electrically, or preferably electronically,connected between the positive 732 and negative 734 electrodes of theelectrochemical cell 730 and the positive 720 and negative 722 terminalsof the container 712. The DC/DC converter 750 converts the cell voltageacross the positive 732 and the negative 734 electrodes of theelectrochemical cell 730 to the output voltage at the positive 720 andthe negative 722 terminals of the container 712. The DC/DC converter 750may provide for step up conversion, step down conversion, both step upand step down conversion, or voltage stabilization at the outputterminals 720 and 722. In this embodiment, the DC/DC converter 750operates in a continuous mode in which the output voltage of theelectrochemical cell 730 will be converted into a stable output voltageat the terminals 720 and 722 of the container over the run time of thebattery. This embodiment stabilizes the output voltage of the container712 at the output terminals 720 and 722. Providing a stable outputvoltage allows electronic device designers to decrease complexity of thepower management circuits of the electronic devices, and,correspondingly, to decrease the size, weight and cost of the devices aswell.

[0106] The DC/DC converter 750 will continue to operate until the cellvoltage of the electrochemical cell 730 drops below either the optimaldischarge depth of the electrochemical cell in the case of arechargeable electrochemical cell or the minimum forward-bias voltage ofthe electronic components, Vfb, of the converter 750 in the case of aprimary electrochemical cell. To the extent that the optimal dischargedepth of the electrochemical cell or the minimum switching voltage, Vfb,of the DC/DC converter 750 is lower than the cut-off voltage of theelectronic device that the battery 710 is powering, the controller 740will also extend the service run time of the battery 710 by dischargingthe battery 710 beyond the cut-off voltage of the electronic device bymaintaining the output voltage at the terminals 720 and 722 of thecontainer 712 above the cut-off voltage of the electronic device.

[0107] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 7, the DC/DC converter 750 that operates in a continuous mode maybe a step down converter that lowers the cell voltage of theelectrochemical cell 730 to an output voltage of the container 712. Inone embodiment of a discharge sub-controller 702 that includes a stepdown converter, the converter lowers the voltage of a first type ofelectrochemical cell 730 to an output voltage of the container 712 thatis about the nominal voltage level of a second type of electrochemicalcell so that the battery containing the first type of electrochemicalcell 730 is interchangeable with a battery containing the second type ofelectrochemical cell. For example, an electrochemical cell having ahigher nominal voltage than a standard 1.5 volt cell could be used incombination with a step down converter that operates continuously toprovide a cell that is interchangeable with the standard cell withoutthe need to chemically alter the electrochemical cell. This embodimentallows for a greater degree of interchangeability between differenttypes of electrochemical cells than is otherwise possible withoutchemically altering the structure of the electrochemical cell itself anddiminishing the chemical energy storage of the cell.

[0108] A primary or rechargeable lithium cell, for example, may be usedin a standard AA battery package to provide at least two times morecapacity than an alkaline battery of the same volume. A lithium cellsuch as a primary or rechargeable lithium MnO2 has a nominal voltage ofabout 3.0 volts and cannot normally be used interchangeably with astandard AA alkaline battery that has about a 1.5 volt nominal voltage.A lithium ion cell having a nominal voltage of about 4.0 volts alsocannot normally be used interchangeably with a standard NiCd batterythat has a nominal voltage of about 1.4 volts. Battery designers have,however, created new types of lithium batteries e.g., (LiFeS₂) that havea nominal voltage of about 1.6 volts in order to create a lithiumbattery that may be used interchangeably with a standard AA alkalinebattery, for example. Although this 1.6 volt lithium battery still hasthe capability of delivering high current levels for uses such asphotographic flash loads, use of the 1.6 volt lithium electrochemicalcell results in a substantial chemical reduction in the chemical energystorage per lithium weight. The present invention, however, provides theability to use a high voltage primary or rechargeable lithiumelectrochemical cell that has a nominal voltage of about 3.0 or about4.0 volts and a controller to convert that nominal voltage down to about1.5 volts or about 1.4 volts. Thus, the battery provides roughly twicethe chemical energy storage of a 1.5 volt alkaline cell, or a 1.4 voltNiCd battery in a battery that is completely interchangeable with any ofthose 1.5 volt or 1.4 volt batteries. Additionally, the lithium batteryof the present invention would provide the same high current levels as a1.6 voltLiFeS₂ cell.

[0109] Additionally, the discharge sub-controller 702 also optimizes theperformance of an electric device such as a flashlight that uses battery710. Although an electric device will not shut off like an electronicdevice at a minimum operating voltage, the performance of the electricdevice, such as the intensity of the flashlight bulb, will decrease asthe input voltage decreases. Thus, a stable battery 710 output voltageallows the electric device performance to remain constant over the runtime of the battery without the device performance decreasing as thevoltage of the electrochemical cell 730 decreases.

[0110] The DC/DC converter 750 may utilize one or more of many knowncontrol schemes such as pulse modulation, which can further includepulse-width modulation (“PWM”), pulse-amplitude modulation (“PAM”),pulse-frequency modulation (“PFM”) and pulse-phase modulation (“PM”),pulse skip low duty control scheme, resonant converters, etc. to controlthe operating parameters of the converter 750. A preferred embodiment ofthe converter 750 of the present invention utilizes pulse-widthmodulation. An even more preferred embodiment utilizes a combination ofpulse-width modulation and pulse-phase modulation, which is described indetail below.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment DC/DC converter 750 for use in abattery of the present invention, the converter is controlled by apulse-width modulator to drive the DC/DC converter 750. The pulse-widthmodulator generates a fixed frequency control signal in which the dutycycle is varied. For example, the duty cycle may be zero when the DC/DCconverter is off, 100% when the converter is operating at full capacity,and varied between zero and 100% depending upon the demand of the loadand/or the remaining capacity of the electrochemical cell 730. Thepulse-width modulation scheme has at least one input signal that is usedto generate the duty cycle. In one embodiment, the output voltage at theterminals 720 and 722 of the container 712 is continuously sampled andcompared to a reference voltage. The error correction signal is used toalter the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter. In this instance, thenegative feedback loop from the output voltage at the terminals 720 and722 of the container 712 allows the DC/DC converter 750 to provide astabilized output voltage. Alternatively, the DC/DC converter 750 canutilize multiple input signals such as the cell voltage, i.e., thevoltage across the positive 732 and the negative 734 electrodes of theelectrochemical cell 730, and the output current to generate the dutycycle. In this embodiment, the cell voltage and the output current aremonitored, and the DC/DC converter 750 generates a duty cycle that is afunction of those two parameters.

[0112] FIGS. 8-11 show block diagrams of additional embodiments ofdischarge sub-controller circuits of the present invention. In each ofthese embodiments, the sub-controller circuit includes at least two maincomponents: (1) a DC/DC converter; and (2) a converter controller thatelectrically, or preferably electronically, connects and disconnects theDC/DC converter between the electrodes of the electrochemical cell andthe output terminals of the container so that the internal losses of theDC/DC converter are incurred only when the DC/DC converter is necessaryto convert the cell voltage to a voltage necessary to drive the load.The DC/DC converter, for example, may be turned on only when the cellvoltage falls to a predetermined level below which the load can nolonger operate. Alternatively, if the electronic device requires aninput voltage within a specific range such as 10% of the nominal voltageof the battery, for example, the converter controller may turn “on” theDC/DC converter when the cell voltage is outside the desired range, butturn the converter “off” when the cell voltage is within the desiredrange.

[0113] In FIG. 8, for example, the DC/DC converter 850 is electricallyconnected between the positive 832 and the negative 834 electrodes ofthe electrochemical cell 830 and the positive 820 and the negative 822terminals of the container 812. The converter controller 852 is alsoelectrically connected between the positive 832 and negative 834electrodes electrochemical cell 830 and the positive 820 and negative822 terminals of the container 812. In this example, the convertercontroller 852 acts as a switch that either connects the electrochemicalcell 830 directly to the output terminals 820 and 822 of the container812, or connects the DC/DC converter 850 between the electrochemicalcell 830 and the output terminals 820 and 822 of the container 812. Theconverter controller 852 continuously samples the output voltage andcompares it to one or more internally generated threshold voltages. Ifthe output voltage of the container 812 falls below the thresholdvoltage level or is outside a desired range of threshold voltages, forexample, the converter controller 852 “turns on” the DC/DC converter 850by electrically, or preferably electronically, connecting the DC/DCconverter 850 between the electrochemical cell 830 and the outputterminals 820 and 822 of the container 812. The threshold voltage ispreferably in the range from about the nominal voltage of theelectrochemical cell 830 to about the highest cut-off voltage of theclass of electronic devices with which the battery is designed tooperate. Alternatively, the converter controller 852 may continuouslysample the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 830 and compare thatvoltage to the threshold voltage in order to control the operation ofthe DC/DC converter 850.

[0114] In the case of a rechargeable battery, the converter controller852 preferably also disconnects the electrochemical cell 830 from theoutput terminals 820 and 822 of the container 812 when the cell voltagereaches about the optimal discharge depth of the electrochemical cell830. This provides a maximum cycle life of the battery in which eachdischarge cycle has an optimized battery run time. Thus, the service runtime of the battery may be increased.

[0115] The discharge sub-controller 902 of FIG. 9 may include theelements of the discharge sub-controller 802 shown in FIG. 8, butfurther includes a ground bias circuit 980 electrically connectedbetween the electrodes 932 and 934 of the electrochemical cell 930, andthe DC/DC converter 950, the converter controller 952, and the outputterminals 920 and 922 of the container 912. The ground bias circuit 980provides a negatively biased voltage level, Vnb, to the DC/DC converter950 and to the negative output terminal 922 of the container 912. Thisincreases the voltage applied to the DC/DC converter 950 from the cellvoltage to a voltage level of the cell voltage plus the absolute valueof the negatively biased voltage level, Vnb. This allows the converter950 to operate at an efficient voltage level until the actual cellvoltage drops to a voltage level below the minimum forward-bias voltagenecessary to drive the ground bias circuit 980. Thus, the converter 950may more efficiently draw a higher current level from theelectrochemical cell 930 than it would be able to with only the cellvoltage of the electrochemical cell 930 driving the converter 950. In apreferred embodiment of the discharge sub-controller 902 for a battery910 of the present invention having an electrochemical cell with anominal voltage of about 1.5 volts, the negatively biased voltage, Vnb,is preferably in the range between about 0 volts and about 1 volt. Morepreferably the negatively biased voltage, Vnb, is about 0.5 volts, with0.4 volts being the most preferred. Therefore, the ground bias circuit980 allows the converter to more deeply discharge the electrochemicalcell 930 and increase the efficiency of the converter 950 in extractingthe current from the electrochemical cell 930 when the cell voltagedrops below about 1 volt for an electrochemical cell having a nominalvoltage of about 1.5 volts.

[0116] One exemplary embodiment of a charge pump 988 that may be used asa ground bias circuit 980 in a battery 910 of the present invention isshown in FIG. 9A. In this embodiment, when switches S1 and S3 areclosed, and S2 and S4 are open, the cell voltage of the electrochemicalcell 930 charges capacitor Ca. Then, when switches S1 and S3 are open,and S2 and S4 are closed, the charge on capacitor Ca is inverted andtransferred to capacitor Cb, which provides an inverted output voltagefrom the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 930. Alternatively,the charge pump 988 shown in FIG. 9A may be replaced by any suitablecharge pump circuit known in the art.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the groundbias circuit 980 includes a charge pump circuit 986. The charge pumpcircuit 986 is shown in FIG. 9B and includes a clock generator 987, andone or more pumps 988. In a preferred embodiment of the charge pumpcircuit 986 shown in FIG. 9B, for example, the charge pump includes atwo-tiered configuration including four mini-pumps 989, and one mainpump 990. Any number of mini-pumps 989, however, may be used. Onepreferred embodiment of charge pump circuit 986, for example, includestwelve mini-pumps 989 and one main pump. The mini-pumps 989 and the mainpump 990 of this embodiment are driven by four different phased controlsignals, 991 a, 991 b, 991 c, and 991 d, generated by the clockgenerator 987 that each have the same frequency, but are shifted inphase from each other. The control signals 991 a through 991 d, forexample, may be shifted in phase ninety degrees from each other. In thisembodiment, each of the mini-pumps 989 provides an inverted outputvoltage of the controls signals 991 a through 991 d that are generatedby the clock generator. The main pump 990 sums the outputs of themultiple mini-pumps 989 and provides an output signal for the chargepump circuit 986 that is at the same voltage level as the individualoutput voltages of the mini-pumps 989, but is at a higher current levelthat is the total of the current provided by all twelve of themini-pumps 989. This output signal provides the virtual ground for theDC/DC converter 950 and the output negative terminal 922 of thecontainer 912.

[0118] In a further aspect of the invention, the charge pump circuitfurther includes charge pump controller 992 that only turns on thecharge pump circuit 986 when the cell voltage drops to a predeterminedvoltage level in order to minimize losses associated with the chargepump circuit 986. The predetermined voltage for the charge pumpcontroller 992, for example, could be in the range from about thenominal voltage of the electrochemical cell 930 to about the highestcut-off voltage of the group of electronic devices for which the battery910 is designed to power. The predetermined voltage is more preferablyabout 0.1 volts greater than the cut-off voltage of the electronicdevice, with about 0.05 volts greater than the cut-off voltage being themost preferred. Alternatively, the charge pump circuit 986 could becontrolled by the same control signal that turns on the DC/DC converter950 so that the charge pump circuit 986 operates only when the converter950 is operating.

[0119] In addition, both the DC/DC converter 950 and charge pump circuit986 in a battery having a rechargeable electrochemical cell arepreferably turned off when the cell voltage drops to about the optimaldischarge depth. This allows the rechargeable electrochemical cell to beoptimally discharged in order to allow a maximum number of andefficiency of charge cycles for that cell.

[0120] Further, when the ground bias circuit 980 is turned off, thevirtual ground, which is applied to the output negative terminal 922 ofthe container 912, preferably collapses to the voltage level of thenegative electrode 934 of the electrochemical cell 930. Thus, when theground bias circuit 980 is not operating, the battery operates in astandard ground configuration provided by the negative electrode 934 ofthe electrochemical cell 930.

[0121] Alternatively, the ground bias circuit 980 could comprise asecond DC/DC converter such as a Buck-Boost converter, a Cuk converter,or a linear regulator. In addition, the DC/DC converter 950 and theground bias circuit 980 can be combined and replaced by a singleconverter such as a Buck-Boost converter, a push-pull converter, or aflyback converter that will both shift the positive output voltage upand shift the negative bias down.

[0122]FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of a discharge sub-controllercircuit 1002 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the DC/DCconverter 1050 is capable of accepting a correction control signal froman external source such as the phase shift sensing circuit 1062. Asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 7, the DC/DC converter 1050utilizes a control scheme such as a pulse-width modulator to control theoperating parameters of the converter 1050. In this embodiment, thedischarge sub-controller circuit 1002 includes the same elements as thedischarge sub-controller circuit 902 shown in FIG. 9, but furtherincludes a phase shift sensing circuit 1062 that measures theinstantaneous phase shift, between the AC components of the cell voltageat electrode 1032 and the current being drawn from the electrochemicalcell 1030 measured across current-sensing resistor Rc. The DC/DCconverter 1050 uses this signal in combination with other internally orexternally generated control signals to generate the duty cycle.

[0123] The discharge sub-controller 1102 of the embodiment shown in FIG.11 may include the same elements as the discharge sub-controller 1002shown in FIG. 10, but further includes an emergency circuit 1182electrically connected to both sides of the current-sensing resistor Rc,and to a negative terminal 1122 of the electrochemical cell 1130, andfurther connected to the converter controller 1152. The emergencycircuit 1182 can signal to the converter controller 1152 in response toone or more safety-related conditions requiring disconnect of theelectrochemical cell(s) 1130 from the output terminals 1120 and 1122 ofthe container 1112 to protect the consumer, an electrical or electronicdevice utilizing the battery 1110, or the electrochemical cell 1130itself. For example, in the event of a short-circuit or inversepolarity, the emergency circuit 1182 signals the converter controller1152 to disconnect the electrodes 1132 and 1134 of the electrochemicalcell 1030 from the terminals 1120 and 1122 of the container 1112. Inaddition, the emergency circuit 1182 can also provide an indication ofthe end of the discharge cycle of the electrochemical cell 1130 to theconverter controller 1152 by sensing the voltage and/or the internalimpedance of the electrochemical cell 1130. For example, the dischargesub-controller 1102 may ramp down the current when the remainingcapacity of the electrochemical cell 1130 falls to a predeterminedlevel, intermittently disconnect and reconnect the electrodes 1132 and1134 of the electrochemical cell 1130 from the output terminals 1120 and1122 for a short duration when the remaining capacity of theelectrochemical cell 1130 reaches a predetermined value, or provide someother visible, audible or machine-readable indication that the batteryis about to shut down. Separately, the emergency circuit 1182 may alsobe used to provide a controller bypass mode if a current sensing circuit1183 indicates a steady current rate higher than the controller 1150 cansustain. If this current is within cell 1130 safety margins, theemergency circuit 1182 can sent a signal to converter controller 1152 toconnect electrodes 1132 and 1134 of the electrochemical cell 1130directly to output terminals 1120 and 1122 bypassing the converter 1150.At the end of the discharge cycle, the emergency circuit may also send asignal to the converter controller 1152 to disconnect theelectrochemical cell 1130 from the terminals 1120 and 1122 of thecontainer 1112 and/or to short the output terminals 1120 and 1122 toprevent the discharged electrochemical cell 1130 from consuming thecurrent of other cells connected in series with the dischargedelectrochemical cell 1130.

[0124] A preferred discharge sub-controller 1202 that is shown in FIG.12 includes a DC/DC converter 1250 having a synchronous rectifier 1274that can electronically connect and disconnect the positive electrode1232 from the positive terminal 1220 of the container 1212. The switchof the synchronous rectifier 1274 eliminates the need for an additionalswitch such as the converter controller 852 in the direct electricalpath between the positive 1232 or the negative 1234 electrodes of theelectrochemical cell 1230 and the output terminals 1220 and 1222 of thecontainer. Additionally, the synchronous rectifier 1274 increases theefficiency of the DC/DC converter 1250 by reducing the internal losses.The converter controller 1252 of this embodiment also allows foradditional input signals for the control of the DC/DC converter 1250.For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the convertercontroller 1252 monitors the internal electrochemical cell environmentvia sensors (not shown) such as temperature, pressure, and hydrogen andoxygen concentration in addition to the phase shift measurementsdescribed earlier with respect to FIG. 10.

[0125] FIGS. 7-12 show progressively more complex circuit designs of thepresent invention. They are given in this order to provide an orderlydescription of different elements that may be included in a dischargesub-controller circuit in addition to the DC/DC converter that is thecentral element of the controller of the present invention. The order ofpresentation is not meant to imply that the elements introduced later incircuits combining multiple different elements must have all thefeatures described with respect to the previous Figures in order to bewithin the scope of the present invention. An emergency circuit, acharge indicator circuit, a phase sensing circuit, and/or a ground biascircuit, for example, may be used in combination with the circuits ofFIGS. 6-11 without the converter controller or other elements shown inthe Figures that show these elements.

[0126] A preferred embodiment of the integrated controller circuit 1340for use in a battery 1310 of the present invention includes the DC/DCconverter 1350 and the converter controller 1352 and is shown in FIG.13. The converter 1350 is preferably a high efficiency, and medium powerconverter that can operate below the threshold voltage of mostelectronic devices. The discharge sub-controller 1302 preferablyincludes a charge pump such as the one shown in FIG. 9B to supply avirtual ground that has a potential below that of the negative electrode1334 of the electrochemical cell 1330 to the DC/DC converter 1350 andthe output terminal 1322 of the container 1312. The virtual groundprovides an increased voltage differential available to drive the DC/DCconverter 1350 and allows the converter 1350 to more efficiently draw ahigher current level from the electrochemical cell 1330 than it would beable to with only the cell voltage driving the converter.

[0127] In this embodiment, the converter controller 1352 preferablyutilizes a pulse-width and pulse-phase modulation control scheme. Thephase shift sensing circuit 1362 measures the cell voltage and thecurrent drawn from the electrochemical cell 1330 at the positive 1332and the negative 1334 electrodes of the electrochemical cell 1330 andthe instantaneous and/or continuous phase shift between the voltage andthe current. This phase shift defines the internal impedance of theelectrochemical cell 1330, which is a function of charge capacity of theelectrochemical cell 1330. In an alkaline battery, for example, afterabout 50% discharge of the electrochemical cell 1330, which isdetermined by the cell closed-circuit voltage drop, the increasinginternal impedance indicates the remaining electrochemical cell 1330capacity. The phase shifting sensing circuit 1362 provides these signalsto the phase linear controller 1371. The phase linear controller 1371then provides the voltage Vs sensed by the phase shift sensing circuit1362 and an output voltage control signal V(psi) that is linearlyproportional to the phase shift to the pulse modulator 1376 thatutilizes a combination of pulse-width modulation and pulse-phasemodulation control schemes. The pulse modulator 1376 also receives thevoltage drop across the resistor Rs as a voltage control signal.

[0128] The pulse modulator 1376 uses the voltage control signals incombination to drive the DC/DC converter 1350. When the voltage Vs isabove a predetermined threshold voltage level, the pulse modulator 1376maintains the metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor(“MOSFET”) M3 in a closed state and the MOSFET M4 in an open state.Thus, the current path from the electrochemical cell 1330 to the load ismaintained via MOSFET M3. In addition, the losses associated with theDC/DC converter 1350 and the converter controller 1352 are minimizedbecause the duty cycle is effectively maintained at zero percent. Inthis case, the DC losses of the closed MOSFET M3 and the resistor Rs areextremely low. The resistor Rs, for example, is preferably in the rangefrom about 0.01 to about 0.1 ohms.

[0129] When the voltage Vs is below a predetermined threshold voltagelevel, however, the pulse modulator 1376 is turned on and modulates theduty cycle of the DC/DC converter 1350 based upon the combination of thevoltage control signals. The amplitude of Vs operates as the primarycontrol signal that controls the duty cycle. The voltage drop across thecurrent sense resistor Rs, or current sensor, which is a function of theoutput current, operates as the second control signal. Finally, thesignal V(psi) generated by the phase linear controller 1371, which islinearly proportional to the phase shift between the AC components ofthe cell voltage and the current being drawn from the electrochemicalcell 1330, is the third control signal. In particular, the V(psi) signalis used to alter the duty cycle in response to the internal impedancechanges over the battery run time, which affects the efficiency of theconverter and the battery run time. The pulse modulator increases theduty cycle if the instantaneous and/or continuous amplitude of Vsdecreases, or if the voltage drop across the resistor Rs increases,and/or the instantaneous and/or continuous amplitude of the V(psi)control signal increases. The contribution of each variable is weightedaccording to an appropriate control algorithm.

[0130] When the pulse modulator 1376 is turned on, its oscillatorgenerates trapezoidal or square wave control pulses that preferably havea 50% duty cycle and a frequency in the range from about 40 KHz to about1 MHz, more preferably in the range from about 40 KHz to about 600 KHz,with about 600 KHz generally being the most preferred. The pulsemodulator 1376 alters the duty cycle of the output control signal forthe MOSFETs M3 and M4 utilizing an appropriate control algorithm. Mostgenerally, the control algorithm operates M3 and M4 with the same dutycycle but the opposite phase. The MOSFETs M3 and M4 are preferablycomplementary high power transistors in which M3 is preferably anN-channel MOSFET, and M4 is preferably a P-channel MOSFET. In essence,the configuration of the complete DC/DC converter 1350 is a boost DC/DCconverter with a synchronized rectifier at the output. In addition, theconverter 1350 minimizes AC and DC losses by using MOSFET M3 instead ofa non-synchronous Schottky diode. Separate control signals drive M3 andthe power MOSFET M4. Altering the phase and/or the duty cycle betweenthe M3 and M4 control signals alters the output voltage across theterminals 1320 and 1322 of the container 1312.

[0131] The pulse modulator 1376 may control the MOSFETs M3 and M4 basedupon one or more voltage control signals such as the voltage VS, thevoltage drop across the resistor Rs, or the internal impedance of theelectrochemical cell 1330. If the load current consumption is low, forexample, the pulse modulator 1376 generates a duty cycle of the DC/DCconverter 1350 close to zero percent. If the load current consumption ishigh, however, the pulse modulator 1376 generates a duty cycle of theDC/DC converter 1350 close to 100%. As the load current consumptionvaries between these two endpoints the pulse modulator 1376 varies theduty cycle of the DC/DC converter in order to supply the currentrequired by the load.

[0132]FIG. 14 compares exemplary discharge curves for a battery B1 thatdoes not have a controller of the present invention, a battery B2 of thepresent invention having discharge sub-controller in which the converterthat operates in a continuous mode, and a battery B3 of the presentinvention, having a discharge sub-controller in which the converterturns on above the cut-off voltage of the battery for a typicalelectronic device for which that battery is designed. As shown in FIG.14, the battery B1 that does not have a controller of the presentinvention will fail in an electronic device that has a cut-off voltageVc at time t1. The discharge sub-controller of the battery B2, however,continuously boosts the output voltage of the battery to voltage levelV2 throughout the run time of the battery. When the cell voltage of theelectrochemical cell of battery B2 falls to voltage level Vd, theminimum operating voltage of the discharge sub-controller, thesub-controller of battery B2 will shut down and the battery outputvoltage drops to zero at time t2, ending the effective run time of thebattery B2. As shown in the graph of FIG. 14, the effective run timeextension of the battery B2 having a sub-controller in which theconverter operates in a continuous mode is t2-t1.

[0133] The controller of the battery B3, however, does not begin toboost the output voltage of the battery until the cell voltage of theelectrochemical cell reaches a predetermined voltage level Vp3. Thepredetermined voltage level Vp3 is preferably in the range between thenominal voltage level of the electrochemical cell and the highestcut-off voltage of the class of electronic devices that the battery isintended to power. More preferably, the predetermined voltage level Vp3is about 0.2 volts greater than the highest cut-off voltage, Vc, of theclass of electronic devices that the battery is intended to power. Evenmore preferably, the predetermined voltage level Vp3 is about 0.15 voltsgreater than the highest cut-off voltage, Vc, of the class of electronicdevices that the battery is intended to power. Yet even more preferably,the predetermined voltage level Vp3 is about 0.1 volts greater than thehighest cut-off voltage, Vc, of the class of electronic devices that thebattery is intended to power, with about 0.05 volts greater than Vcbeing the most preferred. When the cell voltage reaches thepredetermined voltage level Vp3, the converter of battery B3 begins toboost or stabilize the output voltage to a level of Vc+V. The voltagelevel V is depicted in FIG. 14 and represents the voltage differencebetween the boosted output voltage of the battery B3 and the cut-offvoltage Vc. The voltage level V is preferably in the range from about 0volts to about 0.4 volts, with about 0.2 volts being more preferred.Battery B3 then continues to provide an output until the cell voltage ofthe electrochemical cell falls to voltage level Vd, the minimumoperating voltage of the converter, the controller of battery B3 willshut down. At this time, the battery output voltage drops to zero attime t3, ending the effective run time of the battery B3. As shown inthe graph of FIG. 14, the effective run time extension of the battery B3over the battery B 1 that does not have a converter of the presentinvention is t3-t1.

[0134]FIG. 14 also shows that the battery B3 will outlast the battery B2when they are connected to the same electronic device. Because theconverter of battery B2 operates continuously, the internal losses ofthe converter consume some of the energy capacity of the electrochemicalcell of battery B2, and, therefore, the cell voltage of battery B2 willreach the minimum operating voltage of the converter Vd in a shortertime compared to the battery B3 in which the controller is operationalfor only a portion of the discharge cycle. Thus, optimizing theselection of the predetermined voltage Vp3 of battery B3 as close to thecut-off voltage of the electronic device that it is powering will resultin the most efficient usage of the electrochemical cell and result in agreater battery run time extension. Thus the predetermined voltage Vp3of the battery B3 is preferably equal to or slightly greater than thecut-off voltage of the electronic or electric device that it is intendedto power. For example, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably beabout 0.2 volts greater than the cut-off voltage. More preferably, thepredetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.15 volts greaterthan the cut-off voltage. Even more preferably, the predeterminedvoltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.1 volts greater than the cut-offvoltage, with about 0.05 volts greater than the cut-off voltage beingthe most preferred.

[0135] If the battery is designed as a universal battery for a varietyof electronic devices, however, the predetermined voltage Vp3 ispreferably selected to be equal to or slightly greater than the highestcut-off voltage of that group of electronic devices. For example, thepredetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.2 volts greater thanthe highest cut-off voltage of that group of electronic devices. Morepreferably, the predetermined voltage Vp3 may preferably be about 0.15volts greater than the highest cut-off voltage of that group ofelectronic devices. Even more preferably, the predetermined voltage Vp3may preferably be about 0.1 volts greater than the highest cut-offvoltage of that group of electronic devices, with about 0.05 voltsgreater than the highest cut-off voltage of that group of electronicdevices being the most preferred.

[0136] The graphs of FIG. 14 also show that the lower the minimumoperating voltage of the converter Vd, the greater the run timeextension will be compared to battery B1 that does not have a controllerof the present invention. In addition, the greater the differencebetween the cut-off voltage of the electronic device, Vc, and theminimum operating voltage of the converter, Vd, the controller of thepresent invention will provide a greater run time extension of thebattery due to the boosting of the cell voltage of the electrochemicalcell.

[0137] Further, FIG. 14 shows that the device cut-off is no longer thelimiting factor of the discharge of a primary or rechargeableelectrochemical cell. As long as the controller can maintain the outputvoltage of the battery above the cut-off voltage of the device, theelectrochemical cell(s) of the battery may continue to discharge. In aprimary battery, this allows the cell(s) to be discharged as completelyas possible depending upon the minimum operating voltage of theconverter. In a rechargeable battery, however, the present inventionallows an optimal discharge that increases the service run time of therechargeable battery independent of the cut-off voltage of the device aslong as the converter is capable of operating at a cell voltage lessthan or equal to the optimal discharge depth of the rechargeableelectrochemical cell.

Charge Sub-controller

[0138] The charge sub-controller 104 may also extend the cycle life of arechargeable battery of the present invention. The sub-controller mayextend the cycle life of the battery by individually controlling thecharge sequence for each individual electrochemical cell. Thus, thecharge sub-controller may optimize the charge of each cell based onactual feedback from that particular cell in order to maximize thenumber and efficiency of each charge and discharge cycle. The chargesub-controller may, for example, control the charge of each cell bydirectly monitoring the cell voltage and/or the internal impedance ofeach cell. This allows the sub-controller to control the charge cycle ofeach individual electrochemical cell of multiple single-cell batteriesor of one or more multiple-cell batteries.

[0139] The charge sub-controller 104 may also extend the run time of arechargeable battery that is preferably not deeply discharged, such as alead-acid battery, by charging the electrochemical cell(s) during the“off-time” of the discharge cycle, i.e., when the electrochemical cellis not in a discharge mode. For example, the controller may allow thecharge sub-controller to charge any one or more of the individualcell(s) during the “off-time” of the discharge for those cell(s). If the“off-time” is long enough with respect to the “on-time” of thedischarge, i.e., when the particular electrochemical cell is activelydischarging, the charge sub-controller may be able to maintain the cellin at least a near full-charge condition. If the duty cycle is highenough and the device operates over a sufficient duration that thecharge sub-controller is unable to maintain the charge of theelectrochemical cell above a predetermined voltage level or below aparticular impedance level that corresponds to the maximum desireddischarge depth of that type of or that particular electrochemical cell,the discharge sub-controller may end the discharge cycle of the batterywhen the rechargeable electrochemical cell(s) reach the maximum desireddischarge depth. The charge sub-controller may also prevent anovercharge by only charging the cell when the cell voltage is below acertain predetermined voltage level such as the nominal voltage of thecell, by any other method to determine the end of a charge cycledescribed in this application, or by any other means known in the art.Thus, the controller may optimize the service run time of rechargeableelectrochemical cells by not allowing the cell to discharge beyond theoptimal discharge depth during the discharge cycle and optimizing thecharge sequence during the charge cycle.

[0140] Alternate power supplies for the charging cycle may include anexternal supply such as a power cord of a device or an internal supplysuch as another electrochemical cell in the device or packaged with therechargeable electrochemical cell in a hybrid battery. A primary cell,for example may be packaged in the device or along with a rechargeableelectrochemical cell in a hybrid battery. A metal-air cell, such as azinc-air cell that has a high energy density, but is only able toprovide relatively low current levels, provides a particularlyadvantageous alternative power supply that may be used to charge arechargeable electrochemical cell. Alternatively, an alternative powersupply such as a fuel cell may be included in a hybrid battery toprovide the charging source for the rechargeable electrochemical cell.

[0141] In addition, the charge sub-controller also allows the use ofeither a contacted charging system or a contact-less isolated chargingsystem to charge a battery of the present invention.

[0142] A preferred embodiment of the battery of the present inventionmay also include a full charge indication to the user. The chargesub-controller, for example, may provide a visible or audible indicationto the user that the battery is fully charged. Alternatively, thesub-controller may provide a charger system or device readableindication so that the charger system or the device could warn the useraccordingly.

[0143]FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a battery of the presentinvention that includes a charge sub-controller circuit 1504. The chargesub-controller circuit 1504 is preferably integrated into the battery1510 and is responsible to safely and efficiently control an incomingpower signal from an external charging source or circuit in order tooptimize the charge cycle of the rechargeable electrochemical cell 1530.The charge sub-controller circuit 1504 controls the incoming powersignal from the external charging source based upon input voltagecontrol signals received from the sensing circuit 105 and/or feedbackfrom its own internal sensing circuitry. For example, the chargesub-controller 1504 could use the voltage control signal, V(psi), thatdefines the internal impedance of the electrochemical cell 1530. Thiscontrol signal is generated by the phase linear controller 1571 and isdescribed with respect to FIG. 13. Alternatively, the chargesub-controller may control the charging of the electrochemical cell 1530by the cell voltage or the charging current, or by a combination of twoor more of the internal impedance, the cell voltage and the chargingcurrent. In addition, physical conditions measured within the container1512 of the battery 1510 such as hydrogen concentration, oxygenconcentration, temperature and/or pressure may be used by the chargesub-controller to optimally charge the electrochemical cell 1530.

[0144] When the voltage at the terminals 1520 and 1522 is higher thanthe cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 1530, the pulse modulator1576 of the discharge sub-controller 1502 closes N-channel MOSFET M3 andopens P-channel MOSFET M4. MOSFET M3 creates a current path from theterminals 1520 and 1520 to charge the electrochemical cell 1530, andMOSFET M4 prevents a short circuit between the terminals 1520 and 1522.The pulse modulator 1576 may also turn off the ground bias circuit 1580by sending a voltage control signal to the clock generator 1587 of theground bias circuit 1580. In the charge pump example of FIG. 9A, forinstance, the clock generator 987 will open switches S1 and S2, andclose switches S3 and S4, collapsing the virtual ground output to thepotential of the negative electrode 934 of the electrochemical cell 930.Alternatively, if the ground bias circuit 1580 includes an internalcontroller such as a charge pump controller 1592 that operates asdescribed with respect to the charge pump controller 992 of FIG. 9B, theinternal controller may directly compare the voltage of the terminals1520 and 1522 to the cell voltage of the electrochemical cell 1530 andshut off the ground bias circuit 1580 if the voltage across theterminals 1520 and 1522 is greater than the cell voltage of theelectrochemical cell 1530 by directly controlling the clock generator1587. This will collapse the virtual ground output to the potential ofthe negative electrode 1534 of the electrochemical cell 1530.

[0145] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chargesub-controller circuit 1504 uses the internal impedance information todetermine the most efficient AC signal profile including the amplitude,the frequency, falling and rising edges, etc. The sub-controller thusminimizes the internal charging dynamic and static losses of theelectrochemical cell and provides the control for the fastest possiblecharging rate for the particular electrochemical cell. In addition,physical condition sensors such as hydrogen and oxygen concentration,temperature, pressure, etc. may provide the ability to further optimizethe charging conditions.

[0146] When the charge sub-controller circuit 1504 determines that theelectrochemical cell has been fully charged, the charge sub-controlleropens N-channel MOSFET M3. This disconnects the electrochemical cell1530 from the terminals 1520 and 1522 of the container 1512 and,thereby, from the external charging source or circuit.

[0147] Utilization of the internal impedance to control of the chargingof the electrochemical cell 1530 allows charge optimization based uponthe true ionic and electro-impedance conditions of the electrochemicalcell 1530. By placing a charge sub-controller 1504 in each container1512 provides more control of the individual electrochemical cells 1530of multiple single-cell batteries or of a multiple-cell battery becausethe sub-controllers individually control the charging of each cell. Thecells 1530 may be charged in a series and/or a parallel configurationwith other electrochemical cells 1530. If the cells are charged inseries, the charge sub-controller 1504 may include a high impedance pathbetween the terminals so that when the electrochemical cell 1530 isfully charged, the sub-controller 1504 may shunt the charging current tothe other cells connected in series with that cell 1530. If the cellsare connected in parallel, however, the charge sub-controller 1504 maydisconnect the electrochemical cell 1504 from the charging current.Placing a controller in each electrochemical cell of a multiple-cellbattery allows each cell to be charged by the same charging current,which is controlled by the individual controllers in each cell tooptimally charge that cell, regardless of the electrochemistry of thatcell. This charge sub-controller may also charge multiple cells of ahybrid battery even when the cells have different nominal voltages.

[0148]FIG. 16 shows one embodiment of a charge sub-controller circuit1504 configuration that may be used in a battery of the presentinvention as shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, the chargesub-controller circuit 1604 includes a universal charger circuit 1677, aburst circuit 1678, and a charge control state machine 1679. The chargecontrol state machine 1679 uses burst circuit 1678 to create a testcurrent, Is, and the test voltage, Vs, at the electrodes 1532 and 1534of the electrochemical cell 1530. As described with reference to FIG.13, the phase linear controller 1571 detects the phase shift between thetest current, Is, and the test voltage, Vs. The burst circuit 1678preferably includes a burst driver 1668 and a n-channel MOSFET M1. Theburst driver 1668 produces a high frequency control pulse signal, whichdrives the gate of the MOSFET M1. The test current, Is, flows throughthe MOSFET M1, and the phase linear controller 1571 detects the phaseshift angle ( ) between the test current, Is, and the test voltage, Vs.The phase linear controller 1571 outputs the voltage control signalV(psi), which is linearly proportional to the phase shift between the ACcomponents of the cell voltage and the current being drawn from theelectrochemical cell 1530, to the charge control state machine 1679. Thecharge control state machine 1694 uses this control signal from thephase linear controller 1571 to control the AC charge signal profile.When the electrochemical cell 1530 is fully charged, the pulse modulator1576 disconnects MOSFET M3, which in turn disconnects theelectrochemical cell 1530 from the terminals 1520 and 1522 of thecontainer 1512.

[0149]FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of the chargesub-controller circuit shown in FIG. 15 that allows an isolated chargingof the electrochemical cell 1530 without any mechanical contacts betweenthe external charger circuit and the battery 1510 of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the charge sub-controller circuit 1704includes a coil that acts as the secondary coil of a transformer tocharge the electrochemical cell 1530. The external charge sourceincludes a primary coil of the transformer that may be coupled in awireless connection through the air to the secondary coil of the chargesub-controller circuit 1704. A battery of the present invention, forexample, may contain a printed wire coil on the label of the battery1510 or may be contained within the container, or the battery to formthe secondary coil of the charging transformer. The charging circuit ofthis embodiment preferably operates at a frequency in the range fromabout 20 KHz to about 100 KHz, more preferably in the range from about40 KHz to 60 kHz, with about 50 KHz being the most preferred. The signalfrom the external charging source energizes the secondary coil 1798 ofthe charge sub-controller circuit 1704 via the primary coil of theexternal charging source. The charging control state machine 1794controls the universal charger circuit 1777 in order to optimize thecharge cycle of the rechargeable electrochemical cell 1530. If theexternal charger circuit operates at a frequency of about 50 KHz, thetransformer would have a sufficient range to allow charging of theelectrochemical cell from about 1 to about 3 inches from the battery ofthe present invention, and would thus allow an in situ charging of theelectrochemical cell without removing the battery from the electric orelectronic device. This can provide a distinct benefit over batteriesthat must be removed from a device. A battery in a surgically implanteddevice such as a pacemaker, for example, may be charged withoutsurgically removing the battery from the patient.

Emergency Sub-controller

[0150] The controller may also perform an emergency function thatdisconnects the electrochemical cell from the terminals of the containerof the battery in the event that one or more safety-related conditionsis detected and/or connects the electrochemical cell directly to theoutput terminals bypassing the converter if the demanded current by theload exceeds converter capabilities yet is within the operating currentrange for the particular electrochemical cell. The controller mayinclude an independent emergency sub-controller that detects unsafeconditions such as a short-circuit, an inverse polarity, overcharge,over-discharge, high temperature, pressure or hydrogen concentration andelectronically disconnects the electrochemical cell from the terminalsof the battery. Alternatively, the emergency functions may be performedby the circuitry of the discharge sub-controller and/or the chargesub-controller, or the controller may include separate sensing circuitrythat signals the discharge sub-controller and/or the chargesub-controller to disconnect the electrochemical cell from the terminalsof the battery.

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery comprising: (a) a container having apositive terminal and a negative terminal; (b) a battery cell disposedwithin said container, said cell having a positive electrode, a negativeelectrode, and a cell voltage measured across said positive and saidnegative electrodes of said cell; (c) a controller electrically coupledbetween said electrodes of said cell and said terminals of saidcontainer to form, from the cell voltage, an output voltage across thepositive and negative terminals of the container; and (d) a circuitresponsive to a predetermined condition of said battery, the circuitbeing operable to uncouple the output voltage of the controller from theterminals of the container upon detection of said predeterminedcondition.
 2. The battery of claim 1 wherein said circuit is part of thecontroller and is operable for uncoupling the output voltage of thecontroller from said positive and negative terminals of the containerupon detection of said predetermined condition.
 3. The battery of claim1 wherein said circuit includes a current sensor coupled with said cellto measure a cell current, the circuit being responsive to apredetermined condition including an inverse polarity condition basedupon the current sensor, and uncoupling the output voltage of thecontroller from the container terminals upon detection of thepredetermined condition.
 4. The battery of claim 1 wherein said circuitincludes a current sensor coupled with said cell to measure a cellcurrent, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding a short circuit condition based upon the current sensor, anduncoupling the output voltage of the controller from the containerterminals upon detection of the predetermined condition.
 5. The batteryof claim 1 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring the cellvoltage, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding the cell voltage dropping below a predetermined voltage level,the circuit uncoupling the output voltage of the controller from thecontainer terminals upon detection of the predetermined condition togenerally prevent an over-discharge of the cell.
 6. The battery of claim1 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring the cell internalimpedance, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding the cell internal impedance exceeding a predeterminedimpedance, the circuit uncoupling the output voltage of the controllerfrom the container terminals upon detection of the predeterminedcondition to generally prevent an over-discharge of the cell.
 7. Thebattery of claim 1 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring thecell voltage, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding the cell voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage level, thecircuit uncoupling the output voltage of the controller from thecontainer terminals upon detection of the predetermined condition togenerally prevent an overcharge of the cell.
 8. The battery of claim 1wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring the pressure within saidcontainer, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding the container pressure exceeding a pressure limit, the circuituncoupling the output voltage of the controller from the containerterminals upon detection of the predetermined condition.
 9. The batteryof claim 1 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring a hydrogenconcentration within said container, the circuit being responsive to apredetermined condition including the container hydrogen concentrationexceeding a hydrogen limit, the circuit uncoupling the output voltage ofthe controller from the container terminals upon detection of thepredetermined condition.
 10. The battery of claim 1 wherein said circuitis operable for monitoring a temperature within said container, thecircuit being responsive to a predetermined condition including thecontainer temperature exceeding a temperature limit, the circuituncoupling the output voltage of the controller from the containerterminals upon detection of the predetermined condition.
 11. The batteryof claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition includes the conditionwherein the current demand of a load attached to the battery exceeds thecapabilities of the controller, the circuit being further operable, uponuncoupling the output voltage of the controller from the terminals ofthe container, to couple the cell directly to said container terminalsto form the cell voltage at the container terminals.
 12. A multiple-cellbattery comprising: a first container having a positive terminal and anegative terminal; a first battery cell disposed within said firstcontainer, said first battery cell having a positive electrode, anegative electrode, and a battery cell voltage measured across saidpositive and said negative electrodes of the first battery cell; a firstcontroller electrically coupled between the electrodes of said firstbattery cell and the terminals of said first container to create a firstcontainer output voltage measured across said first container positiveand negative terminals; a second container electrically coupled to saidfirst container, said second container having a positive terminal and anegative terminal; a second battery cell disposed within said secondcontainer, said second battery cell having a positive electrode, anegative electrode, and a battery cell voltage measured across saidpositive and said negative electrodes of the second battery cell; asecond controller electrically coupled between said electrodes of saidsecond battery cell and said terminals of said second container tocreate a second container output voltage measured across said secondcontainer positive and negative terminals; and a circuit responsive to apredetermined condition of said multiple cell battery, the circuit beingelectrically coupled to one of the first and second controllers touncouple the respective one of the first and second container outputvoltages from the terminals of the respective one of the first andsecond containers upon detection of said predetermined condition. 13.The multiple cell battery of claim 12, further comprising a housinghaving an output positive terminal electrically coupled to said firstcontainer positive terminal and an output negative terminal electricallycoupled to said second container negative terminal, said first containernegative terminal electrically connected to said second containerpositive terminal, said housing substantially containing said first andsecond container.
 14. The multiple cell battery of claim 12 wherein saidcircuit includes a current sensor coupled with at least one cell tomeasure the current of that cell, the circuit being responsive to apredetermined condition including an inverse polarity condition basedupon the current sensor, and uncoupling the output voltage of thecontroller from the container terminals associated with that cell upondetection of the predetermined condition.
 15. The multiple cell batteryof claim 12 wherein said circuit includes a current sensor coupled withat least one cell to measure the current of that cell, the circuit beingresponsive to a predetermined condition including a short circuitcondition based upon the current sensor, and uncoupling the outputvoltage of the controller from the container terminals associated withthat cell upon detection of the predetermined condition.
 16. Themultiple cell battery of claim 12 wherein said circuit is operable formonitoring a cell voltage of at least one of the cells, the circuitbeing responsive to a predetermined condition including the cell voltagedropping below a predetermined voltage level, the circuit uncoupling theoutput voltage of the controller from the container terminals associatedwith that cell upon detection of the predetermined condition togenerally prevent an over-discharge of the cell.
 17. The multiple cellbattery of claim 12 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring acell internal impedance of at least one of the cells, the circuit beingresponsive to a predetermined condition including the cell internalimpedance exceeding a predetermined impedance, the circuit uncouplingthe output voltage of the controller from the container terminalsassociated with that cell upon detection of the predetermined conditionto generally prevent an over-discharge of the cell.
 18. The multiplecell battery of claim 12 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoringa cell voltage of at least one of the cells, the circuit beingresponsive to a predetermined condition including one of the cellvoltage exceeding a predetermined voltage level, the circuit uncouplingthe output voltage of the controller from the container terminalsassociated with that cell upon detection of the predetermined conditionto generally prevent an overcharge of the cell.
 19. The multiple cellbattery of claim 12 wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring apressure within at least one of said containers, the circuit beingresponsive to a predetermined condition including the container pressureexceeding a pressure limit, the circuit uncoupling the output voltage ofthe controller from the container terminals associated with thatcontainer upon detection of the predetermined condition.
 20. Themultiple cell battery of claim 12 wherein said circuit is operable formonitoring a hydrogen concentration within at least one of thecontainers, the circuit being responsive to a predetermined conditionincluding the container hydrogen concentration exceeding a hydrogenlimit, the circuit uncoupling the output voltage of the controller fromthe container terminals associated with that container upon detection ofthe predetermined condition.
 21. The multiple cell battery of claim 12wherein said circuit is operable for monitoring a temperature within atleast one of the containers, the circuit being responsive to apredetermined condition including one of the container temperatureexceeding a temperature limit, the circuit uncoupling the output voltageof the controller from the container terminals upon detection of thepredetermined condition.
 22. The multiple cell battery of claim 12wherein said predetermined condition includes the condition wherein thecurrent demand of a load attached to the multiple cell battery exceedsthe capabilities of at least one of the controllers, the circuit beingfurther operable, upon uncoupling the output voltage of the controllerfrom the terminals of the container, to couple at least one of the cellsdirectly to said respective container terminals to form the cell voltageat the respective container terminals.
 23. The multiple cell battery ofclaim 12, wherein at least one of the said first and second batterycells comprises one of an electrochemical cell and a voltaic cell.
 24. Amethod for extending the useful life of a battery comprising the stepsof: (a) providing a battery including: (i) a container having a positiveterminal and a negative terminal; and (ii) a battery cell disposedwithin said container, said cell having a positive electrode, a negativeelectrode, and a cell voltage measured across said positive and saidnegative electrodes of said cell; the method being characterized by: (b)electrically coupling a controller between said electrodes of said celland said terminals of said container to form, from the cell voltage, anoutput voltage across the positive and negative terminals of thecontainer; (c) in response to detection of a predetermined condition ofthe battery, uncoupling the output voltage of the controller from theterminals of the container.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein sensinga predetermined condition includes sensing a cell current exceeding apredetermined current level.
 26. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising upon uncoupling the voltage of the controller from theterminals of the container, electrically coupling said positiveelectrode to said positive terminal and said negative electrode to saidnegative terminal.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein sensing apredetermined condition includes sensing a cell voltage being one ofbelow an over-discharge voltage and above an overcharge voltage.